Glaucoma device implantation linked to corneal cell loss

This review combined data from studies on eyes without pre-existing corneal disease that received an Ahmed or Baerveldt glaucoma drainage device. The analysis included 572 eyes followed for about one year. The main finding was a decrease in corneal endothelial cell density after device implantation. The average loss was about 205 cells per square millimeter within the first year. The review also noted that cell loss was greater in predominantly Asian populations compared to predominantly Caucasian populations. Safety events were not reported in the included studies. The main reason to be careful is that the evidence had significant differences between studies, which limited the analysis for some device placements. Readers should know this is a summary of existing research, not a new trial. It suggests a link between device implantation and cell loss, but more high-quality studies are needed for definitive estimates.