AIM: To analyze the curative effect and safety in early stage primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)between simple Ex-PRESS shunt implantation and its combination with biological amniotic membrane implantation.

METHODS: The clinical data of 53 cases for POAG treated with simple EX-PRESS shunt implantation(22 cases, 34 eyes)as control group and its combination with biological amniotic membrane implantation(31 cases, 38 eyes)as experimental group were retrospectively analyzed. Intraocular pressure(IOP)preoperatively and postoperatively were statistically evaluated. Filtering bleb and incidences of postoperative complications were observed in our hospital during the period of January of 2015 to April of 2017.

RESULTS: At each time point after the operation, the mean IOP of the experimental group and the control group decreased distinctly respectively, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). There was no significant difference on the mean IOP between the experimental group and the control group at 1d and 1wk after operation(P<0.05). The mean IOP in the control group was higher than experimental group at 3 and 6mo(P<0.05). The rate of functional filtration blebs were different between experimental group and control group during at postoperatively 3mo(P<0.05). The complications included shallow anterior chamber, hemorrhage, posterior synechia of the iris, and corneal edema after surgery, and its incidences was not different between two groups(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: EX-PRESS shunt combined with biological amniotic membrane implantation can effectively and safely reduce intraocular pressure, and improve the condition of filtering bleb after operation, and has long-term effect on IOP.