Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combined with Ahmed glaucoma drainage valve(AGV) implantation in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma(NVG).

Methods The clinical data of 47 patients with NVG were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were treated with Ahmed glaucoma drainage valve(AGV) implantationAGV group, 25 cases(25 eyes) and trabeculectomytrabecular group, 22 cases(22 eyes). Two groups were injected with intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs before surgery, the panretinal photocoagulation was completed after surgery, and all cases were regularly followed up within 1 year. The best corrected visual acuity improvement, intraocular pressure(IOP) before and after surgery, use of anti-glaucoma drugs, postoperative complications and operation success rate were compared between two groups.

Results After anti-VEGF treatment, the neovascularization of iris surface in two groups showed regression to different degrees, and the IOP in two groups was lower than that before surgery(P < 0.05). At each time-point of operation, the IOP in two groups was lower than that before surgery and after anti-VEGF treatment(P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance in the IOP between two groups at each time-point(P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in the best corrected visual acuity between two groups after operation(P>0.05). Compared with before operation, the types of anti-glaucoma drugs use after operation reduced significantly in two groups(P < 0.01). There was no statistical significance in the incidence of postoperative complications between two groups(P>0.05). The operative success rate in the AGV group was higher than that in trabecular group(P < 0.05).

Conclusions Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents combined with AGV implantation is effective and safe in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma.