My Ahmed Shunt Has Become Uncovered Twice. What is my course of action?
JUL 02, 2013
Question:
I had an Ahmed shunt placed in my right eye in January 2013. The tube has become uncovered twice and was recovered surgically each time. If it uncovers again, what is my course of action?
Answer:
When the tube attached to an Ahmed valve becomes uncovered twice, that usually indicates that for whatever reason, the tissue in that area is poorly compatible with that device. Your surgeon may try a number of options including repositioning the tube so that it lies flatter against the eye, covering the tube with a thicker protective layer (sclera, cornea, or pericardium), or even autografting conjunctiva over the top of that entire complex. Other choices would be to place the Ahmed Valve in another quadrant of the eye, or to lower the pressure using a totally different surgical procedure.