AIM: To investigate the safety and effect of EX-PRESS glaucoma drainage device on open-angle glaucoma.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 40 patients(47 eyes)whose eyes were diagnosed as open angle glaucoma through the best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure(IOP), gonioscope, examination of the ocular fundus, and visual fields et al. Fourty patients 6-73y old(mean 39.90±16.50y old)with the BCVA from 0.01 to 0.6 and the IOP from 18mmHg to 65mmHg were treated with EX-PRESS glaucoma drainage device after achieving not well IOP over three drugs. Follow-up of these patients 1d, 3d and 1wk after treatment, IOP, slit lamp examination were retrospectively observed. The changes of the BCVA, IOP were used to evaluate the safety and effect before and after treatmeat.

RESULTS: The mean BCVA was 0.26±0.29 pre-operatively, while it was 0.24±0.22 after treatment one week. The mean BCVA decreased slightly, but there was no statistic difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment(t=1.56,P=0.13). The mean IOP was(36.62 ±14.01)mmHg pre-operatively,(10.04±5.77)mmHg after treatment one day,(9.59±4.93)mmHg after treatment three days,(9.47±3.06)mmHg after treatment one week. The IOP was decreased significantly in post-treatment after one day, three days, one week compared with pre-treatment(F=157.20, P<0.05). Except for 5 eyes of the IOP below 5mmHg, there was no ocular or systemic adverse events observed in all patients.

CONCLUSION: EX-PRESS glaucoma drainage device is an effective and safe treatment for the patients with open-angle glaucoma. The risk and complication are low intraoperatively and postoperatively.