Background: Neovascular glaucoma is a refractive glaucoma. Recently, anti-VEGF factors have been used alone or\nin combination for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. However, the medium- and long-term efficacy of such\ndrugs remains to be evaluated. This study was to determine the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab combined with\nAhmed glaucoma valve implantation for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma.\nMethods: In this prospective non-randomized study, 43 neovascular glaucoma patients (43 eyes) were assigned to\nreceive either 0.5 mg intravitreal ranibizumab for three to 14 days before Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation\n(injection group, n = 21) or Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation alone (control group, n = 22). The patients were\nfollowed up for six to 12 months. Differences in surgical success rate, intraocular pressure, best corrected visual\nacuity, anti-glaucoma medications and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.\nSurgical success was defined as IOP > = 6 mm Hg and < = 21 mm Hg, with or without the use of anti-glaucoma\nmedications, and without severe complications or reoperation.\nResults: Of the 43 patients, 40 completed the 6-month follow-up and 37 completed the 1-year follow-up. Success\nrate was 73.7 % vs. 71.4 % at six months and 72.2 % vs. 68.4 % at 12 months in the injection group and the control\ngroup respectively. No significant difference was noted between the two groups (six months: P = 0.87, 12 months:\nP = 1.00). There were no significant differences in the two groups with respect to intraocular pressure, best\ncorrected visual acuity, anti-glaucoma medications or postoperative complications at six months or 12 months.\nConclusions: Single intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg) before surgery has no significant effect on the\nmedium- or long-term outcomes of neovascular glaucoma treated with Ahmed glaucoma valve\nimplantation.
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