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A releasable scleral-flap tamponade suture for guarded filtration surgery.

Postoperative complications of filtering surgery are generally associated with overfiltration. We describe a technique that employs an externalized releasable suture in partial-thickness filtering surgery. This suture acts as a tamponade on the anterior surface of the scleral flap, assisting in maintenance of anterior-chamber depth during the early postoperative period. After using this technique, anterior-chamber depths preoperatively and 1 day after surgery were compared in 35 phakic patients. A mean (+/- SD) decrease in anterior chamber depth of 4.6% +/- 12% was found on the first postoperative day. One patient had iridocorneal apposition. The mean intraocular pressure 1 day after surgery was 7.0 +/- 7.0 mm Hg, with one patent having an intraocular pressure of 28 mm Hg. This "tamponade suture" appears to be useful in maintaining the anterior chamber depth in the early postoperative period while permitting satisfactory filtration.

Adult↗

Endophthalmitis caused by nutrient variant streptococci after filtering bleb surgery.

Late-onset endophthalmitis after filtering bleb surgery is most often caused by streptococci. We report the first case of endophthalmitis caused by nutrient variant streptococci (NVS), which probably originated from the oral cavity. This patient's vision improved from light perception to 20/80 with intravitreal and systemic antibiotic administration. In late-onset endophthalmitis, NVS can be pathogenic; the laboratory must be alerted to culture specifically for this fastidious bacterium.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Are filtering interventions in glaucoma patients with extensive visual field defects associated with a higher functional risk?].

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prevalence of the loss of visual acuity due to loss of the central portion of the visual field and foveolar fixation in the first week after glaucoma filtering surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 408 patients, in whom glaucoma filtering surgery was performed between January 1993 and April 1997 at the University Eye Clinic in Tübingen and who had completed 1-year follow-up examinations. The retrospective evaluation included preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data. We excluded all patients who did not complete 1-year follow-up examinations (12 +/- 3 months), who have died during the 1-year follow-up, who had combined glaucoma and cataract surgery or in whom the Molteno implant procedure was performed. RESULTS: A total of 404 patients (99.3%) did not suffer loss of the central visual field and foveolar fixation in the first week after glaucoma filtering surgery. In 11 cases, loss of visual acuity > 2 dB was due to progressive lens opacification. One patient suffered from postoperative progression of his age-related maculopathy. In one patient (0.2%) progression of a preexisting relative central scotoma occurred immediately after the operation. Two patients (0.5%) suffered from loss of fixation and the central visual field immediately after glaucoma filtering surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of the central visual field and central fixation immediately after glaucoma filtering surgery is a rare complication. Therefore, glaucoma filtering surgery can also be recommended for patients with advanced visual field defects.

Filtering Surgery↗

Young patient trabeculectomy. Assessment of risk factors for failure.

BACKGROUND: Various risk factors for failure of glaucoma filtering surgery, including young age, have been suggested. METHODS: A retrospective study of 113 trabeculectomies in 113 patients, ranging in age between 11 and 49 years (mean, 33.3 +/- 10.5 years), was carried out to determine the influence of these risk factors in young patients. RESULTS: A successful outcome (intraocular pressure [IOP] < or = 21 mmHg without antiglaucoma treatment), assessed by life-table analysis, was achieved in 54% of trabeculectomies after 38 months (mean follow-up, 36.7 +/- 29.7 months). Previous ocular surgery (e.g., glaucoma filtering, cataract, or conjunctival surgery) and previous laser therapy (i.e., argon laser trabeculoplasty and YAG laser iridotomy) both significantly reduced the success rate. An IOP greater than 40 mmHg during the course of the disease was found to adversely affect the outcome. No direct correlation between success rate and age and no racial difference were demonstrated. Success rates for specific diagnoses were not significantly different. Postoperative subconjunctival injections of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) did not significantly improve the success rate. A Cox regression analysis of various prognostic variables identified previous cataract surgery (hazard ratio, 4.4), argon laser trabeculoplasty (hazard ratio, 3.4), previous glaucoma filtering surgery (hazard ratio, 2.5), nonfiltering glaucoma surgery (hazard ratio, 2.2) and IOP greater than 40 mmHg (hazard ratio, 2.4) to be the major risk factors for glaucoma filtering surgery failure. CONCLUSION: A majority (74%) of the patients in our series had at least one of these risk factors, thus explaining why young patients, in general, have lower success rates for trabeculectomy.

Adolescent↗

[Filtering glaucoma surgery as outpatient procedure].

BACKGROUND: While cataract surgery is nowadays performed routinely as an outpatient procedure, performing filtering glaucoma surgery under these conditions remains questionable due to the more demanding perioperative management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outpatient filtering glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy and combined phakoemulsification and trabeculectomy (phakotrab)) is performed at the Ophthalmology Department of Kantonsspital Winterthur when requested by the patient. This paper provides a retrospective review of all outpatient filtering glaucoma procedures performed in the last three and a half years. RESULTS: Forty-six filtering procedures (21 trabeculectomies and 25 phakotrabs) were performed in 45 eyes of 40 patients (50 - 84 years) as outpatient procedures. Mitomycin C was administered in 16/21 trabeculectomies and in 7/25 combined procedures. In the trabeculectomy group, intraocular pressure (IOP) was surgically lowered from 23.3 +/- 7.2 mm Hg (under 2.4 +/- 0.8 IOP-lowering medications) to 12.7 +/- 3.5 mm Hg (20/21 patients without medication). In the combined group, IOP was lowered from 20.8 +/- 6.3 (under 2.0 +/- 0.7 medications) to 13.7 +/- 2.7 mm Hg (only 5/25 patients still requiring IOP-lowering medications). In the latter group, the best corrected visual acuity was below 20/40 only in 2 eyes due to advanced glaucomatous optic atrophy. One patient developed relative intraocular hypotony (IOP 6 mm Hg), one patient required needling + 5-fluorouracil injection and one patient required surgical revision of the trabeculectomy after 14 months. DISCUSSION: Adequate patient selection and refined surgical technique (tight wound closure and releasable sutures or argon laser suturolysis) allow performing filtering glaucoma surgery as an outpatient procedure. Extended post-operative care during the first 2 months is the key for IOP-lowering success.

Aged↗

A case-control comparison of the clinical characteristics of glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients with and without the myocilin Gln368Stop mutation.

PURPOSE: To determine whether primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertensive (OHT) patients who harbor the myocilin Gln368Stop mutation differ in phenotype or clinical course from patients without the mutation. DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study compared all known POAG patients (n = 18) and OHT patients (n = 4) harboring the Gln368Stop mutation evaluated by the University of Iowa Glaucoma Service with control patients from the same population. Patients and control subjects were matched for diagnosis, age, sex, and race and were compared for phenotype and clinical course. RESULTS: Mean age of disease onset and mean peak intraocular pressures (IOPs) of cases were similar to those reported by other studies. There was no statistically significant difference between cases and controls for the following variables: age at onset, peak intraocular pressure, Snellen visual acuity, number of medications, Humphrey visual field (HVF) mean deviation, HVF pattern deviation, number of filtering surgeries performed, time intervals from diagnosis to argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), diagnosis to first filtering surgery, ALT to first filtering surgery, and percent change in IOP after ALT and after first filtering surgery. CONCLUSIONS: There is no statistically significant difference between the onset and clinical course of POAG and OHT caused by the Gln368Stop mutation and POAG and OHT not associated with the mutation.

Adult↗

GGRGDSPCA peptide: a new antiscarring agent on glaucoma filtration surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: GGRGDSPCA synthetic peptide competes for integrin receptor in scar formation after glaucoma filtering surgery in a rabbit model. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of this peptide and compare it with mitomycin on glaucoma filtering surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Posterior sclerectomy was performed in both eyes of 17 rabbits. The right eye received GGRGDSPCA (p605) at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 days after. Nine left eyes received saline as a control; the remaining 8 eyes received mitomycin C at 0.5 mg/mL intraoperative. Intraocular pressures and biomicroscopy were evaluated as well as bleb function. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure decreased significantly in both the peptide and mitomycin treated eyes in comparison with the saline group (P = 0.0003). Pressure was similar in both groups. The blebs showed filtrating function in a functional analysis at day 21 and 41 in the mitomycin cases as well as in the peptide group. Histologic analysis performed in both peptide and mitomycin groups showed inhibitory effect in fibrocellular and collagen organization with bleb formation. CONCLUSIONS: The p605 peptide showed to be similar to mitomycin C in controlling and improving glaucoma filtering surgery in rabbits. This alternative may potentially be useful for similar purposes in humans for the control of glaucoma and improvement of filtering surgery.

Animals↗

Deep sclerectomy for the management of uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma: preliminary data.

BACKGROUND: If medical treatment fails in uveitic glaucoma a surgical approach should be considered. Classical trabeculectomy is known to have a less favourable outcome in uveitis. Our intention is to report the first series of uveitis patients with glaucoma resistant to medical therapy who were treated with deep sclerectomy (DS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen eyes of 13 patients (mean age 39.0 +/- 18.5 years; range 8 to 76 years) with chronic uveitis underwent non-penetrating filtering surgery from 1995 to 2003. All patients had their uveitis controlled before and after surgery by immunomodulatory therapy. Non-penetrating filtering surgery consisted of DS with collagen implant (Staar(R)) in 4 eyes, DS with draining device (T-Flux Ioltech(R)) in 2 patients, DS without implant in 7 patients and with viscocanalostomy in 1 patient. Nine eyes (65 %) received mitomycin C peri-operatively. RESULTS: Intra-ocular pressure (IOP) was reduced from a mean pre-operative value of 42.8 +/- 13.6 mmHg to a 1-year mean post-operative value of 12.1 +/- 4.0 (71.7 % reduction). Eleven of the 14 eyes completed 12 months of follow-up, resulting in complete success in 5 (45.4 %) and in qualified success in 5 (45 %) and in failure in one patient (9.2 %), later controlled by a second operation. Anti-glaucomatous medication was reduced from a mean of 3.7 +/- 0.5 medications preoperatively to 1.2 +/- 0.8 medications (71.4 % reduction) at the 12 month follow-up. Nine of the 14 patients achieved a 24 month follow-up with a mean IOP of 14.1 +/- 3.8 mmHg and mean of anti-glaucomatous medications of 1.6. Four patients have been examined 4 years after the DS: mean IOP was 13.2 +/- 2.2 mmHg and mean medication 1.7 +/- 1.0. Post-operative complications included one case of lens opacity and 2 cases of hypotony lasting for five months and four weeks after the intervention respectively. CONCLUSION: Non-penetrating filtering surgery controlled the intra-ocular pressure in 90 % of eyes with uveitic glaucoma resistant to medical therapy at 12 months. Surgical complications were low which may explain the high success rate of the procedure, compared to classical penetrating surgery.

Adolescent↗

[External trabecular excision--alternative to filtering glaucoma operation in patients with open angle glaucoma].

BACKGROUND: Postoperative complications concerning glaucoma filtering surgery (trabeculectomy, goniotrepanation) often include hypotonia that may lead to athalamia or choroidal detachment, which are difficult to handle. Cystic non filtering blebs are due to postinflammatory reactions, and may limit the success of filtering surgery. Aim of the study was to compare the success and the complications of a new operating technique, which will be described, with those of usual glaucoma filtering surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 24 open angle glaucoma patients with mean intraocular pressure of 28.12 mm Hg (+/- 8.6) we performed external trabecular excision in 25 eyes since June 1997. Preoperative visual acuity and peak intraocular pressure were compared retrospectively in all eyes with the values of the first postoperative day, in 22 eyes after one month and in 17 eyes after 3 months. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure measured between 0 mm Hg and 16 mm Hg on the first postoperative day (7.64 mm Hg +/- 4.3), after one month between 10 mm Hg and 30 mm Hg (17.81 mm Hg +/- 5.5) and after 3 months between 9 mm Hg and 26 mm Hg (15.29 mm Hg +/- 4.2). After 1 month 10 of 22 (45%) and after 3 months 7 of 17 eyes (42%) required antiglaucomatous drugs; 3 eyes needed gonitrepanation (2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months after ETE). Concerning postoperative complications, we observed 6 choroidal detachments, once erythrocoytes in the anterior chamber, twice hyphemata, twice inflammatory reaction in the anterior chamber, two flat anterior chambers and twice a positive seidel test. CONCLUSION: Complications after ETE are similar to those after filtering surgery. Postoperative intraocular pressure dip after ETE in most eyes was not as pronounced as after goniotrepanation or trabeculectomy, and postoperative complications were all reversible. 45% of the eyes again needed antiglaucomatous drugs after one month and 42% after 3 months. A prospective long-term study has to verify the success respectively the complications of ETE.

Adult↗

[5-fluorouracil injection treatment after fistulating glaucoma operations].

BACKGROUND: Since 1984 subconjunctival 5-Fluorouracil injections have been applied with success after filtering surgery. It was the purpose of this retrospective study to find out whether the results justify this treatment in view of all side effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2/1991 and 1/1993 twenty-nine eyes of 11 female and 16 male patients with high-risk glaucoma (unsuccessful previous filtering surgery and a high risk of scarring) were treated with subconjunctival injections of 5-Fluorouracil after filtering surgery in the University Eye Hospital Düsseldorf. The mean age of the patients was 58 (11-84) years and the mean follow-up period was 16 (4-24) months. The mean amount of injected 5-Fluorouracil was 43 (5-85) mg. Glaucoma was regarded as controlled when intraocular pressure levels were reduced by more than 20% of the preoperative level and stayed consistently below 21 mm Hg. RESULTS: 26 (89.6%) of the eyes had controlled intraocular pressure during the follow-up period. Two eyes were controlled only after additional cyclocrycoagulation, and 1 glaucoma has remained uncontrolled. Postoperatively we observed fistulas of the conjunctiva in 24% of the eyes and 69% of the eyes had corneal epithelial breakdown problems. It is unlikely that subconjunctival injections of 5-Fluorouracil work only by inhibiting scarring of the filtration bleb. Long-lasting e-vacuo-symptoms in single cases with no functioning bleb at all as well as scarred blebs in 9 of 26 eyes with controlled glaucoma must be interpreted as a probable sign of 5-Fluorouracil toxicity on the ciliary epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival injections of 5-Fluorouracil after filtering surgery are helpful to control high-risk glaucoma, but there are several disadvantages of this treatment as fistulas of the conjunctiva, corneal surface problems, discomfort for the patient, difficult follow-up and a potential toxicity on the ciliary epithelium that may be pronounced in some cases. Therefore, subconjunctival injections of 5-Fluorouracil after filtering surgery are a useful means for eyes with a high risk of scarring. However, 5-Fluorouracil should not be applied for primary normal glaucoma surgery.

Adolescent↗

Post-operative inflammation following deep sclerectomy with collagen implant versus standard trabeculectomy.

BACKGROUND: An investigation was carried out to compare post-operative inflammation following deep sclerectomy with collagen implant (DSCI) versus standard trabeculectomy. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, 46 eyes of 46 Caucasian patients with medically uncontrolled chronic open-angle glaucoma and without previous glaucoma surgery underwent filtering surgery. Twenty-four eyes underwent DSCI. Twenty-two eyes underwent standard trabeculectomy. Pre- and post-operative flare, measured using laser flare photometry, were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In both groups, the mean anterior chamber flare increased on the first post-operative day, then decreased progressively. DSCI was associated with lower flare measurements post-operatively. The difference was statistically significant up to 1 month post-operatively: 16.3 +/- 7.8 vs 72.5 +/- 38.9 (P < 0.001) at 1 day, 7.8 +/- 4.6 vs 44.7 +/- 29.2 (P < 0.001) at 1 week, 5.9 +/- 1.6 vs 7.0 +/- 2.8 (P = 0.012) at 1 month, 6.4 +/- 1.8 vs 6.5 +/- 1.9 (P = 0.77) at 2 months, 5.9 +/- 1.8 vs 6.1 +/- 1.6 (P = 0.65) at 3 months. CONCLUSION: Surgically induced inflammation can be reduced with DSCI. This may be due to the lack of iridectomy, irrigation, and penetration of the anterior chamber. Eyes at increased risk of post-operative inflammation, such as those with uveitic or traumatic glaucoma, may benefit from this procedure. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term functional and anatomical outcomes of DSCI.

Aged↗

Exudative macular degeneration and intravitreal triamcinolone: 18 month follow up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone after 18 months of follow up in patients with age-related macular degeneration and subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization considered unsuitable for laser photocoagulation. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 28 patients, referred from general eye clinics as well as the private clinic of one of the authors to a hospital-based retinal out-patient clinic, were treated with an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone (4 mg). The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eyes with loss of six or more lines on a Bailey-Lovie Chart. The incidence of adverse events associated with treatment was also observed. RESULTS: Of the 20 eyes with initial visual acuity (VA) of 6/60 or better, the vision was maintained (+/-1 Bailey-Lovie lines) in 11 eyes (55%), while six eyes (30%) suffered severe visual loss (six or more lines). The VA improved by five to six lines in three of 10 eyes with initial vision of 3/60 or worse. Three of four eyes receiving a second injection suffered either progressive cataract or elevated intra-ocular pressure (IOP) requiring cataract surgery and/or filtering surgery. One of 26 eyes (3%) receiving a single injection showed progression of cataract and elevation of IOP within 6 weeks of treatment and required anti-glaucoma medication for 6 weeks. Progression of nuclear sclerosis 8-12 months after treatment was observed in six of 26 eyes (23%) receiving a single injection. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that a single intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone is reasonably well tolerated by the human eye. The rate of development of severe visual loss was less than reported for historical controls. Because the results are preliminary and uncontrolled, the treatment should not be used routinely until its benefit to patients is established by a prospective, randomized controlled study.

Aged↗

Filtering bleb encapsulation increased by steroid injection.

In an attempt to enhance its pressure-lowering and fibroblast inhibiting effects, we administered 0.15 cc of 24 mg/ml dexamethasone, intra-Tenon's, directly over the fistula site following 16 consecutive filtering surgeries. The encapsulation rate in these eyes was 56% (9/15), as compared with 10% (2/20) in a retrospectively matched group of eyes that had undergone filtering surgery with dexamethasone given subconjunctivally 180 degrees away from the filter site. The effective concentration of dexamethasone achieved by the injections at the filter site apparently did not maintain the fibroblast inhibitory drug level and, in fact, supported fibroblastic growth, resulting in increased encapsulation. Because of the increased encapsulation rate and the lack of any demonstrable benefit associated with it, we do not recommend intralesional dexamethasone in filtering surgery. Commercial topical steroids with their lower concentrations also may act to promote rather than inhibit fibroblast growth. Prolonged steroid use after filtering surgery beyond the inflammatory phase of wound healing (about 2 weeks) may increase fibrosis in the area of the filter, resulting in a thick-walled bleb with few microcysts, one form of which is frank encapsulation. Thus, we recommend that topical steroids routinely be stopped by the third postoperative week if the level of inflammation permits.

Adult↗

Feasibility of veno-venous bypass surgery using leukocyte adhesion filters during abdominal surgery in a porcine model.

During oncologic surgery, manipulation of tumour tissue is almost unpreventable; liver resection even carries a higher risk of tumour cell dissemination into venous blood. Under in vitro conditions, a tumour cell reducing effect of some leukocyte adhesion filter systems has been shown. In a preclinical porcine model, these filters were used as integrated parts of a veno-venous bypass system used for liver surgery, run by a biopump. Practicability, handling and safety aspects of the filter system were analysed; the system was easy and safe to handle, and treated animals survived without any complications. For the future, effectiveness of the tumour cell depletion has to be examined in further experimental and clinical studies.

Animals↗

[Scoring system for chronic open glaucoma].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate a scoring system for chronic open-angle glaucoma. We devised an empirical scoring system grading severity of the disease and correlated this with treatment. MATERIAL: and methods: Ninety patients were evaluated on 11 parameters: 1) Family history of glaucoma: blindness (2), yes (1) no (1); 2) Age: infantile (4), juvenile (4); 3) Race: Caucasian (0), Asian (1), Afro-Caribbean (2); 4) Myopia: 0-6 diopters (1), 6-12 diopters (2),>12 diopters (3); 5) Pigment dispersion or pseudoexfoliation (1); 6) Intraocular pressure without treatment:>30 mmHg (4); 25-30 mmHg (3), 20-25 mmHg (2); 7) Corneal central thickness:<500 micro m (3),>500 micro m (0); 8) Optic disc appearance: suspect (1), pathological (4); 9) Visual field defect: early (1), moderate (3), advanced (5); 10) Vascular risk factors: yes (1), no (0); 11) Loss of eyesight in one eye due to glaucoma (4). Scoring values were 2-34. We correlated this score with patient treatment: medical or surgical, number of glaucoma medications. RESULTS: Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (36 patients), score 0-8; group 2 (24 patients), score 9-13; group 3 (30 patients), score above 13. Distribution between patients treated with medicine (mean number of medications) and patients with filtering surgery was: group 1, medical treatment with 1.63+/-0.73 medications, surgery 4/36; group 2, medical treatment with 2.00+/-0.7 medications, surgery 17/24 and group 3, medical treatment with 2.12+/-0.67 medications, surgery 27/30. In group 1, 88% of the patients did not have filtering surgery, but 90% of the patients in group 3 had filtering surgery. CONCLUSION: This scoring system seems to be an easy and practical tool to evaluate chronic open-angle glaucoma, which could also be used to evaluate target pressure. Other studies are necessary to validate this scoring system.

Adolescent↗

Response of filtered eyes to digital ocular pressure.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of digital ocular pressure (DOP) on the intraocular pressure (IOP) of eyes 3 months or longer after successful glaucoma filtering surgery. METHODS: Fifteen patients participated in this study. Each had one eye with a successful filtering operation (IOP < or = 21 mmHg without medications) and a fellow eye that was not operated on, which served as a control. The authors measured IOP in both eyes before and serially after DOP until return to baseline or for 3 hours to determine the amounts and durations of reductions. The authors monitored changes of bleb morphology and searched for complications. RESULTS: Digital ocular pressure 3 months or more after successful filtering surgery reduced IOP by approximately 50% of baseline. The time after DOP for 50% of eyes to have intraocular pressure return to within 2 mmHg of baseline was 95 minutes; 40% recovered within 20 minutes and 30% had not recovered by 3 hours. Eyes with localized blebs recovered faster than did eyes with diffuse blebs. Transient shallowing of the anterior chamber developed in one eye. Otherwise, there were no adverse effects. Time since surgery and baseline IOP were not correlated with response. Fellow eyes had minimal response to DOP and recovered within 30 minutes. CONCLUSION: This study shows that a substantial, transient decrease of IOP after DOP occurs in glaucomatous eyes with a well-functioning bleb 3 months to 6 years after filtering surgery. The duration exceeds 90 minutes in more than 50% of the eyes tested and 180 minutes in more than 30% of the eyes tested.

Filtering Surgery↗

[Corneal descompensation in patients with endothelial compromise treated with topical dorzolamide].

PURPOSE: To investigate the possibility of corneal alterations in patients with long-term endothelial compromise with topical dorzolamide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of 17 patients with penetrating keratoplasty and glaucoma associated with topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy, looking for coincidence with corneal alteration. RESULTS: Classified by ethiology, type of glaucoma and control, recording previous ophthalmological surgeries, evolution time, complications and rejection episodes. Seven patients suffered a corneal decompensation, in three of them there were signs of true reject but only four cases had edema at the beginning of dorzolamide treatment, one of them recovering after stopping dorzolamide. Risk factors were previous cataract surgery, mainly aphakia, filtering surgery and previous vitrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Dorzolamide could have a potential negative effect on patients with endothelial compromise.

Adult↗

[Surgical therapy of glaucoma].

During recent years, glaucoma surgery has been modified by the introduction of new antiglaucoma drugs and by laser therapy. Various glaucoma operations have, however, retained their value in the treatment of severe glaucoma cases. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is best treated by iridectomy. When a clear cornea is present, laser iridectomy can be performed. Prophylactic treatment of the contralateral eye is mandatory. In chronic open-angle glaucoma, filtration surgery with a scleral flap is usually performed (goniotrephination or trabeculectomy). Modifications in the conjunctival incision and the use of antifibroblastic drugs may reduce the failure rate for difficult cases in the future. Individual adjustment of postoperative treatment is of great importance for the development of functioning filtering blebs. Reoperations retain their high incidence of subconjunctival scarring. In congenital glaucoma, the success rate of trabeculotomy equals the success rate of goniotomy. Trabeculotomy has advantages when the cornea is cloudy, but may be more difficult to perform in eyes with a stretched anterior segment or in secondary congenital glaucomas. In neovascular glaucoma, cryotherapy of the peripheral retina often normalizes the intraocular pressure by reduction of neovascularization. Cyclocryotherapy of the anterior pars plicata often results in cataract and phthisis bulbi and is only rarely used. In non-neovascular secondary glaucoma or numerous reoperations for primary glaucoma, the implantation of a Molteno or Schocket implant may be helpful. Cyclodialysis is seldom used because its outcome is extremely variable. It is mostly replaced by modified filtering surgery, including ciliary tendon disinsertion (Watson trabeculectomy). If the IOP is high in coexisting glaucoma and cataract, two separate procedures are normally performed successively: when the filtering surgery has been successfully performed and settled, a separate extracapsular cataract operation is performed via a clear corneal incision. Simultaneous procedures, if necessary, can be performed with a trabeculotomy or with a filtering operation. If the IOP is borderline, an extracapsular cataract operation is normally sufficient to lower the IOP for some mmHg. Cataract formation after filtering surgery has become a less severe complication, as posterior chamber lens implantation is also possible in glaucomatous eyes. Therefore, filtering surgery nowadays seems indicated at earlier stages of glaucoma.

Cataract Extraction↗