Abstract
Background: Glaucoma stands as a prominent contributor to irreversible vision impairment on a global scale. For decades, the Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant (BGI) has been used to treat refractory glaucoma. Yet, the cost-effective Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant (AADI) has gained clinical attention as a viable alternative for managing glaucoma. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of AADI and BGI in the treatment of refractory glaucoma. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic search of multiple databases, identifying relevant comparative studies assessing AADI versus BGI in patients with refractory glaucoma. Key outcomes included postoperative IOP, surgical success rates, antiglaucoma medication reduction (AGMR), and complication rates. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Three studies comprised a total of 176 individuals with refractory glaucoma, with 107 patients receiving the AADI and 69 patients receiving the BGI. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically borderline significant reduction in postoperative IOP favoring the AADI at 3 months (mean difference [MD] = -2.74, p=0.05). There was no significant difference in the MD of AGMR between the AADI and BGI groups. The rates of total complications and surgical success did not differ significantly between the AADI and BGI groups. Conclusion: AADI demonstrates promising results in reducing IOP at 3 months compared to BGI, with comparable surgical outcomes and complication rates over the long term. Further studies with larger samples are warranted to validate these findings and assess cost-effectiveness, particularly in developing countries.