Outcomes of Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Placement in Client‐Owned Rabbits With Refractory Glaucoma
Gladys BooABSTRACT
Objective
To evaluate the outcome and describe complications associated with use of Ahmed valve gonioimplants in the treatment of glaucoma in rabbits.
Animals
Six client‐owned rabbits with glaucoma.
Procedures
Medical records of rabbits that underwent Ahmed valve gonioimplantation between 2022 and 2025 were reviewed. All eyes received intracameral tissue plasminogen activator immediately postoperatively.
Results
Gonioimplantation was performed in eight eyes. The Holland Lop breed was overrepresented. Median age was 5 years and median pre‐operative IOP was 32 mmHg (26–43 mmHg). 6/8 eyes were suspected to have primary glaucoma. Three eyes had developed presumed secondary glaucoma after phacoemulsification. Clinical signs at presentation included slow and incomplete pupillary light reflex (one eye), blepharospasm (three eyes), conjunctival hyperemia (one eye), periocular swelling (two eyes), corneal edema (one eye), ulcerative keratitis (two eyes), retinal vascular attenuation (one eye), and optic nerve cupping (five eyes). Three rabbits died of unrelated causes at 6, 10 and 22 months post‐operatively. After gonioimplantation, median IOP was 17 mmHg (10–25 mmHg). Vision was retained in all eyes for a mean period of 11.6 months (2–22 months). Mean antiglaucoma medication use decreased from 1.75 to 1.38 post‐operatively. Mean administration frequency reduced from 4 to 3.37 times daily. Post‐operative complications included shallow anterior chamber (two eyes), Haab's striae (one eye), iridal and periocular hemorrhage (one eye). One rabbit experienced hypokalemia related to topical therapy.
Conclusions
In rabbits with medically refractory glaucoma, gonioimplantation is effective in IOP control and maintaining vision in sighted rabbit eyes.