Five-year risk of progression of ocular hypertension to primary open angle glaucoma. A population-based study

PURPOSE: To report the progression of ocular hypertension (OHT) to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) during a 5-year follow up of a population-based sample. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed to have OHT and 110 randomly selected normals from a population-based study in 1995 were invited for ocular examination in 2000. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination; including the daytime diurnal variation of intraocular pressure (IOP) and measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT). The "corrected" IOP was used for analysis. Progression to POAG was based on typical optic disc changes with corresponding field defects on automated perimetry. RESULTS: Twenty-five of the 29 persons with OHT who could be contacted were examined. After correcting for CCT, two persons were reclassified as normal. Four of 23 (17.4%; 95% CI: 1.95-32.75) had progressed to POAG. One person amongst the 110 normals progressed to normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The relative risk of progression amongst OHT was 19.1 (95% CI: 2.2-163.4). All those who progressed had bilateral OHT. The mean and peak IOP in those who progressed was 25.4 mm Hg and 29.3 mm Hg compared to 23.9 mm Hg and 25.7 mm Hg in those who did not. Those who progressed had more than 8 mm Hg diurnal variation. The diurnal variation was less than 6 mm Hg in those who did not progress. No patient developed blindness due to glaucoma. CONCLUSION: The 5-year incidence of POAG amongst OHT in this population was 17.4% (3.5% per year). Bilateral OHT, higher peak IOP and large diurnal variation may be the risk factors for progression.     

Open-angle glaucoma: variations in the intraocular pressure after visual field examination

PURPOSE: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) variations after automated visual field examination in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and in healthy subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intraocular pressure was measured in 49 patients (94 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma and in 13 healthy subjects (26 eyes) before and immediately after automated visual field examination. All patients had stable IOP and were using local medication to treat glaucoma. The visual field test was performed with a Humphrey 630 VF analyzer and the Central 30-2 full-threshold program. RESULTS: Mean IOP increased significantly in glaucomatous patients immediately after automated visual field examination (P < 0.01), and returned to pretest values after 1 hour (P = 0.2). Mean IOP variation was 2.38 (range, -6-11) mm Hg. In 42 (44.68%) glaucomatous eyes, IOP increased more than 2 mm Hg, with a mean increase of 5.5 mm Hg. Elderly glaucoma patients showed a significantly higher IOP rise than younger patients. No significant IOP variation was detected in healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: Intraocular pressure varied significantly and tended to increase immediately after automated visual field examination in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Age seemed to contribute to these IOP changes, but other factors could be involved.     

Effects of caffeine on intraocular pressure: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between coffee and caffeine intakes and intraocular pressure (IOP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants aged 49+ years in an area west of Sydney, Australia. A detailed medical history questionnaire included average daily intakes of coffee and tea. The eye examination included Goldmann applanation tonometry and automated perimetry. Participants using glaucoma medications or who had previous cataract or glaucoma surgery or signs of pigmentary glaucoma/pigment dispersion, were excluded. Mean and maximum IOP calculations were used. RESULTS: Participants with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) who reported regular coffee drinking had significantly higher mean IOP (19.63 mm Hg) than participants who said that they did not drink coffee (16.84 mm Hg), after multivariate adjustment, P = 0.03. Participants consuming > or = 200 mg caffeine per day had higher mean IOP (19.47 mm Hg) than those consuming < 200 mg caffeine per day (17.11 mm Hg), after adjusting for age, sex, and systolic blood pressure (SBP), P = 0.06. This association did not reach statistical significance after multivariate adjustment. No association between coffee or caffeine consumption and higher IOP was found in participants with ocular hypertension (OH) and those without open-angle glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: In participants with open-angle glaucoma, this study identified a positive cross-sectional association between coffee consumption/higher caffeine intakes and elevated intraocular pressure.     

Long-term changes in intraocular pressure after clear corneal phacoemulsification: normal patients versus glaucoma suspect and glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of clear corneal phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients without glaucoma, glaucoma suspects, and patients with glaucoma. SETTING: Urban, multisubspecialty private practice. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who had clear corneal phacoemulsification with a minimum of 12 months follow-up was performed. The patients were divided into 3 groups: no glaucoma (NG), glaucoma suspects (GS), and glaucoma (GG). None had a history of prior surgery. Glaucoma suspects included patients with elevated IOPs, abnormal discs, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, or pigment dispersion syndrome on no medications and with no field defects. Glaucoma patients had received only medical treatment. Two-tailed, homoscedastic t tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were 143 patients (164 eyes) in the NG group, 65 (75) in the GS group, and 61 (71) in the GG group. The mean preoperative IOP was 16.42 mm Hg +/- 2.77 (SD), 17.59 +/- 4.15 mm Hg, and 16.97 +/- 4.86 mm Hg in the 3 groups, respectively. At 1 year, the mean IOP was lower in all groups: 14.37 +/- 2.97 mm Hg, 15.68 +/- 3.38 mm Hg, and 15.86 +/- 4.00 mm Hg, respectively. The change was statistically significant in the NG and GS groups. Glaucoma patients showed a statistically significant reduction in the number of glaucoma medications postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Clear corneal phacoemulsification was associated with a statistically significant long-term reduction in IOP.     

Is the tono-pen accurate for measuring intraocular pressure in young children with congenital glaucoma?

PURPOSE: We sought to compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements by Perkins tonometer and Tono-Pen in young children with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). METHODS: This was a retrospective comparative case series. We reviewed the clinical records of all children with primary congenital glaucoma who underwent examinations under general anesthesia at Soroka University Medical Center between January 1999 and July 2002. Our main outcome measures were IOP with Perkins hand-held tonometer and Tono-Pen tonometer. RESULTS: A total of 28 eyes of 16 children were examined under general anesthesia. The mean IOP was 18 +/- 6 mm Hg with the Perkins tonometer and 22 +/- 8 mm Hg with the Tono-Pen. In 18 eyes, IOP was less than 21 mm Hg with the Perkins tonometer; these eyes had already undergone surgical procedures. The other 10 eyes with IOP greater than 21 mm Hg with the Perkins tonometer underwent surgery at the end of the examination under anesthesia. In eyes with IOP greater than 16 mm Hg (Group A, n = 18), a significant difference (P < 0.001) was found between the Perkins and Tono-Pen measurements, even although the values were strongly correlated (r = 0.60). In contrast, in eyes with IOP less than 16 mm Hg (Group B, n = 10) no statistically significant difference (P = 0.28) and good correlation (r = 0.78) were obtained. A difference of 5.8 +/- 3.8 mm Hg and 0.6 +/- 1.7 mm Hg between Perkins and Tono-Pen readings, respectively, was found in Groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Tono-Pen readings disagree with Perkins tonometer measurements for measuring IOP in children with PCG who present with IOP greater than 16 mm Hg and tends to overestimate IOP. A further study with a similar population is necessary to confirm these results.     

Molteno/von Denffer drainage implants in therapy-refractory glaucomas

BACKGROUND: In glaucoma eyes in which the pressure regulation was not possible with drugs and surgery or which were blind already, we treated the patients with a Molteno implant by von Denffer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 10 years (1995 to 2004) we treated 19 eyes with a glaucoma drainage device -- the Molteno implant developed by von Denffer. The average age of the patients was 64 (range: 15 to 77) years. On average 3,1 operations were realised before the implant. The average eye pressure was 44 mm Hg preoperatively. Our patients suffered from different glaucomatous diseases: 7 primary glaucomas (congenital, open and narrow angle glaucoma) and secondary: neovascular glaucoma (4), PEX glaucoma (2), traumatic glaucoma (3) and postoperative glaucoma (3). RESULTS: The intraocular pressure had a successful outcome of under 20 mm Hg in 13 eyes, 5 patients out of these were treated with 1 to 3 drugs. Early complications (flat anterior chamber, hyphaema, hypotonia) were reversible. Late complications were phthisis bulbi (3), explantation of the implant (2) and one evisceration bulbi. We found an improvement of the visual acuity in 4 cases in traumatic and postoperative glaucoma. The stabilisation of visual acuity was possible in primary glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of the Molteno implant by von Denffer is an ultimate ratio in eyes with persistent high intraocular pressure. A durable reduction of the pressure is possible in two-thirds and the conservation of the bulbus was achieved in three-fourths of the patients.     

Laser suture lysis after trabeculectomy

PURPOSE: The author attempted to avoid ocular hypotony following a mitomycin-C trabeculectomy by controlling the interval between surgery and laser suture lysis. METHODS: When 10 seconds of digital pressure on the eye following a mitomycin-C trabeculectomy produced a 20% drop of the intraocular pressure, the decision of whether or not to perform laser suture lysis was delayed until the following examination. RESULTS: Twenty-nine consecutive eyes (27 patients) with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent mitomycin-C trabeculectomy in which laser suture lysis was required during the postoperative period to reach the target intraocular pressure. The eyes were classified by the severity of the glaucoma: mild, moderate, and severe. For moderate and severe glaucoma, an unqualified success was defined as an intraocular pressure of 10 +/- 2 mm Hg. A qualified success had an intraocular pressure of 5 to 7 mm Hg or 13 to 15 mm Hg. Failure was defined as an intraocular pressure less than 5 mm Hg or greater than 15 mm Hg. Fifteen eyes were called success, 7 eyes qualified success, and 7 eyes failure. When the final laser suture lysis was carried out within the first two postoperative months, two of the failure eyes sustained hypotony. If the final laser suture lysis had been carried out after the first two postoperative months, there were no eyes with hypotony. There was no statistical difference in the final intraocular pressure between the early laser suture lysis and late laser suture lysis groups. CONCLUSIONS: From this pilot study it would appear that delaying the final laser suture lysis following trabeculectomy (MMC) until after the second postoperative month may reduce the risk of hypotony without adversely affecting the final intraocular pressure.     

Effect on intraocular pressure of local anaesthesia in eyes undergoing intraocular surgery.

A total of 104 eyes undergoing intraocular surgery were studied to investigate the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) of peribulbar and retrobulbar anaesthesia in eyes with and without glaucoma. Forty eyes had glaucoma. Intraocular pressure was measured before, immediately after, and 5 minutes after injection of local anaesthetic. Mean IOP rose by 5.8 mm Hg at 1 minute (p < 0.01) and 0.7 mm Hg at 5 minutes (p > 0.05). However, in eyes not receiving external ocular compression after the 1 minute measurement (n = 70, 67%), IOP was still 3.6 mm Hg higher than baseline (p < 0.01), compared with 5.2 mm Hg lower than baseline (p < 0.01) where compression was used. Patients with glaucoma experienced higher and more persistent increases in IOP than those without glaucoma. The increase in IOP varied greatly between patients: the maximum rise was 25 mm Hg, and in one glaucoma patient an IOP of 50 mm Hg occurred, persisting for 5 minutes. At 1 minute, 14 of the glaucoma subjects (35%) had experienced an IOP rise of > or = 10 mm Hg, and four (10%) a rise of > or = 20 mm Hg. These results suggest that the changes in IOP in patients with glaucoma, with an acute increase in IOP being succeeded by an acute decrease on entry into the anterior chamber, may be hazardous. The implications for clinical practice are discussed.     

Long term results of diode laser cycloablation in complex glaucoma using the Zeiss Visulas II system.

AIM: To investigate the safety and efficacy of the Zeiss Visulas II diode laser system in the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with complex glaucoma. METHODS: The authors analysed the medical records of patients who underwent trans-scleral diode laser cycloablation (TDC) at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital during a 34 month period. 55 eyes of 53 patients with complex glaucoma were followed up for a period of 12-52 months (mean 23.1 months) after initial treatment with the Zeiss Visulas II diode laser system. RESULTS: Mean pretreatment IOP was 35.8 mm Hg (range 22-64 mm Hg). At the last examination, mean IOP was 17.3 mm Hg (range 0-40 mm Hg). After treatment, 45 eyes (82%) had an IOP between 5 and 22 mm Hg; in 46 eyes (84%) the preoperative IOP had been reduced by 30% or more. The mean number of treatment sessions was 1.7 (range 1-6). At the last follow up appointment, the mean number of glaucoma medications was reduced from 2.1 to 1.6 (p<0.05). In 10 eyes (18%), post-treatment visual acuity (VA) was worse than pretreatment VA by 2 or more lines. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with the Zeiss Visulas II diode laser system can be safely repeated in order to achieve the target IOP. Treatment outcomes in this study were similar to those from previously published work using the Iris Medical Oculight SLx laser.     

Current profile of secondary glaucomas

Purpose: To study the current profile of secondary glaucomas for their incidence and to identify risk factors. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective chart review, 2997 patients newly diagnosed and referred with glaucoma to our tertiary glaucoma center in the year 2005 were included. Evaluation of all cases was done on the basis of a detailed history and recorded examination including vision, intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior segment examination, gonioscopy and fundus evaluation by glaucoma specialists. Demographic data, etiology of secondary glaucoma, and any other significant findings were noted. Results: Of 2997 referred patients, 2650 had glaucoma or were glaucoma suspects. Of all glaucoma patients or glaucoma suspects, 579 patients (21.84%) had secondary glaucoma. Age distribution was as follows: 25% were between 0-20 years; 27% were between 21-40 years; 30% were between 41-60 years and 18% were> 60 years. The male female ratio was 2.2. Frequent causes of secondary glaucoma were post - vitrectomy 14%, trauma 13%, corneo-iridic scar 12%, aphakia 11%, neovascular glaucoma 9%. Post-vitrectomy glaucoma eyes had vitreous substitutes in 83% cases of which 66% eyes had retained silicone oil for more than three months. Vision 30 mm Hg. Of all traumatic glaucoma patients, 71% cases were < 30 years of age. Fifty per cent had baseline IOP of> 30 mm Hg and vision 相似文献   

Cost analysis of childhood glaucoma surgeries using the US Medicaire allowable costs

AIM: To analyze and calculate the relative cost of various childhood glaucoma surgical interventions per mm Hg intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction ($/mm Hg). METHODS: Representative index studies were reviewed to quantitate the reduction of mean IOP and glaucoma medications for each surgical intervention in childhood glaucoma. A US perspective was adopted, using Medicare allowable costs to calculate cost/mm Hg IOP reduction ($/mm Hg) at 1y postoperatively. RESULTS: At 1y postoperatively, the cost/mm Hg IOP reduction was $226/mm Hg for microcatheter-assisted circumferential trabeculotomy, $284/mm Hg for cyclophotocoagulation, $288/mm Hg for conventional ab-externo trabeculotomy, $338/mm Hg for Ahmed glaucoma valve, $350/mm Hg for Baerveldt glaucoma implant, $351/mm Hg for goniotomy, and $400/mm Hg for trabeculectomy. CONCLUSION: Microcatheter-assisted circumferential trabeculotomy is the most cost-efficient surgical method to lower IOP in childhood glaucoma, while trabeculectomy is the least cost-efficient surgical method.     

Surgical outcomes of combined phacoemulsification and glaucoma drainage implant surgery for Asian patients with refractory glaucoma with cataract

PURPOSE: To examine the safety and efficacy of combined phacoemulsification and glaucoma drainage implant surgery in providing reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual rehabilitation in eyes with refractory glaucoma and cataract. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on all subjects who underwent combined phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation and glaucoma drainage implant surgery by a single surgeon at the National University Hospital, Singapore. The implants used were the 185 mm2 Ahmed glaucoma valve and the 350 mm2 Baerveldt glaucoma implant. In terms of IOP, a complete success was defined as IOP of between 6 to 21 mm Hg without medication, qualified success as IOP between 6 to 21 mm Hg with one or more medication, and failure as a sustained IOP of >21 mm Hg or <6 mm Hg with or without one or more medication on two or more visits. RESULTS: A total of 32 combined phacoemulsification and glaucoma implant surgeries in 32 patients was performed. All patients were of Asian origin, and the mean age was 58 +/- 16 years (range, 20-78 years). The Baerveldt glaucoma implant and Ahmed glaucoma valve implant were inserted in 16 eyes each. With a mean follow-up of 13 +/- 5 months (range 6 to 22 months), IOP was reduced from a mean of 28.0 +/- 11.5 mm Hg to 15.2 +/- 6.0 mm Hg postoperatively (P <.0001), whereas the number of antiglaucoma medications decreased from a mean of 2.4 +/- 1.4 to.3 +/-.7 (P <.0001) at last follow-up. Overall, there were 24 eyes (75%) that were classified as complete successes, 4 eyes (12.5%) that were qualified successes, and 4 eyes that failed (12.5%). Twenty-three eyes (72%) had improvement of visual acuity, while only one eye had a loss of more than 1 line of Snellen acuity. There was no case that encountered an intraoperative complication, and postoperative complications occurred in 12 eyes (38%), the most common of which was hypotony (in six eyes, 19%). CONCLUSION: For subjects with refractory glaucoma and cataract, combined phacoemulsification and glaucoma drainage implant surgery provide good visual rehabilitation and control of IOP, with low incidence of complications.     

Effects of laser trabeculoplasty on the human aqueous humor dynamics: a fluorophotometric study

Thirteen eyes, seven with primary open-angle glaucoma and six with capsular glaucoma, were treated with laser trabeculoplasty (a fluorophotometric examination was performed about one week prior to it). The intraocular pressure was reduced below 20 mm Hg in eight eyes, and the second fluorophotometric examination could be carried out in six successfully treated eyes about three months later. In the six successfully treated eyes, the pre-laser trabeculoplasty examination showed the following results: IOP: 22 +/- 2 mm Hg; the cornea-aqueous transfer coefficient for fluorescein: 0.32 +/- 0.10 hour-1; and the aqueous flow rate: 1.31 +/- 0.53 microliter min-1. The post-laser trabeculoplasty examination gave the following results: IOP: 15 +/- 2 mm Hg; the cornea-aqueous transfer coefficient: 0.29 +/- 0.08 hour-1; and the aqueous flow rate: 1.23 +/- 0.41 microliter min-1. No significant difference was found in the aqueous flow rate or the cornea-aqueous transfer coefficient before and after.     

Transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation as primary surgical treatment for secondary glaucoma in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: high failure rate after short term follow up

AIM: To evaluate the success rates of transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation (TD-CPC) for secondary glaucoma in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as primary surgical treatment. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 12 paediatric patients with JIA associated uveitis and secondary open angle glaucoma. RESULTS: 21 eyes of the 12 patients had chronic anterior uveitis, 21 eyes had secondary open angle glaucoma, and 19 eyes were treated 41 times with TD-CPC. Patients underwent a mean of 2.15 treatment sessions per eye. Pretreatment intraocular pressure (IOP) was 30.2 (5.5) mm Hg before the first treatment, 30.5 (5.7) mm Hg before the second treatment, and 28.7 (6.3) mm Hg before the third treatment. Reduction of IOP 6 weeks after treatment was highest after the second and third treatments with 9.4 (8.8) and 8.7 (5.8) mm Hg, respectively and 5.2 (10.7) mm Hg after the first treatment. Qualified success (IOP 相似文献   

Secondary glaucoma in patients with lens subluxation or luxation

AIM: To estimate the frequency of secondary glaucoma appearance and the influence of surgical treatment on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with posterior lens dislocation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study concerned 152 patients (57 females and 95 males, age range: 19 to 91 years, mean--58 years). Secondary glaucoma was found in 62 patients (41%). Trauma was the cause of lens dislocation in 81% of these cases, while it was the cause in only 69% of cases in the whole material. Pars plana vitrectomy with limbal intracapsular lens extraction or lentectomy were performed in all cases. In 24 cases perfluorocarbon liquid was used. Scleral fixation PC IOLs were implanted in 85 eyes (group A), AC IOLs in 27 eyes (group B), and 40 eyes remained aphakic (group C). The follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 5 years, mean 22 months. RESULTS: Raised IOP was found preoperatively in 46 cases (30.3%). It was raised in 21 (24.7%) eyes in group A (24-60 mm Hg, mean 37.1 mm Hg), and it has normalized postoperatively in 14 eyes, while topical medication was necessary in 7 remaining cases. In group B raised IOP (26-60 mm Hg, mean 41.4 mm Hg) was found preoperatively in 8 (29.6%) eyes. It has normalized postoperatively in 5 eyes, while topical medication was necessary in 3 eyes. The respective values in group C were: 17 (42.5%), 24-80 mm Hg, mean 43.2 mm Hg. In 7 eyes IOP was normal after surgery, 10 patients required topical treatment, and in 3 of these cases trabeculectomy had to be performed. In 16 eyes with normal preoperative IOP it has raised postoperatively in different periods of time (from 1 week to 6 months). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary glaucoma is a frequent complication of the posterior lens dislocation, and it is more often related with traumatic cases. The dislocated lens removal with the use of vitrectomy causes IOP normalization in most of the cases. The periodical examination of IOP is necessary after the dislocated lens removal also in cases with normal preoperative IOP, because secondary glaucoma may appear in different time after surgery.     

Corneal hysteresis and intraocular pressure measurement in children using the reichert ocular response analyzer

PURPOSE: To examine corneal hysteresis in children with normal eyes and congenital glaucoma and assess intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement with the Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer (RORA). DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. METHODS: setting: Clinical practice. patients: Corneal hysteresis and intraocular pressure (Goldmann correlated [IOPg] and corneal compensated [IOPcc]) were recorded with RORA. IOP was also measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Mean corneal hysteresis of 12.5 mm Hg was recorded in 81 [corrected] normal eyes of 42 children. It was markedly lower (mean 6.3 mm Hg) in 11 eyes of eight children with congenital glaucoma. No correlation was found between age and corneal hysteresis (r = -0.08). IOPg did not differ significantly from Goldmann applanation tonometry (P = .27). IOPcc was statistically significantly greater than IOPg (P = .014). RORA measurement was not possible in the presence of nystagmus but was possible with applanation tonometry. Cooperation with IOP measurement was much higher with RORA (89.8%) compared with applanation tonometry (78.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal hysteresis in children is similar to that reported in adults. No correlation was found with age. In the presence of nystagmus, IOP measurement was possible with Goldmann applanation tonometry but not RORA. Cooperation with IOP measurement was better with RORA than with Goldmann applanation tonometry.     

Surgical outcomes of trabeculotomy combined with sinusotomy for juvenile glaucoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of trabeculotomy combined with sinusotomy for juvenile glaucoma. METHODS: We studied 16 patients (25 eyes) (age range, 11-50 years) with juvenile glaucoma for a minimum follow-up period of 1 year. We performed combined trabeculotomy and sinusotomy surgery in 13 juvenile glaucoma patients (18 eyes), and trabeculotomy alone in 6 patients (7 eyes). RESULTS: The intraocular pressure (IOP) of the combined surgery group was 29.8 +/- 7.8 mm Hg before surgery and 15.6 +/- 3.0 mm Hg 1 year after surgery. The IOP of the trabeculotomy-alone group was 29.1 +/- 6.4 mm Hg before surgery and 15.4 +/- 2.4 mm Hg 1 year after surgery. A postoperative IOP spike that was higher than the preoperative IOP was recorded in 2 eyes of the combined surgery group and in 2 eyes of the trabeculotomy group. The combined surgery group consisted of 7 eyes with a previously failed glaucoma surgery, and 11 eyes having a first glaucoma surgery. The postoperative IOP in these 11 eyes was 15.5 +/- 2.8 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: Trabeculotomy is very effective in lowering the IOP in patients with juvenile glaucoma. Sinusotomy does not play an important role in tension control.     

【In Press】 Long-term results of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in Egyptian population

AIM: To evaluate the long-term results and complications of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation in a cohort of Egyptian patients. METHODS: A retrospective study of 124 eyes of 99 patients with refractory glaucoma who underwent AGV implantation and had a minimum follow-up of 5y was performed. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement before surgery and at 1d, weekly for the 1, 3, 6mo, and 1y after surgery and yearly afterward for 5y. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry and/or Tono-Pen. Complications and the number of anti-glaucoma medications needed were recorded. Success was defined as IOP less than 21 mm Hg with or without anti-glaucoma medication and without additional glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: Mean age was 23.1±19.9y. All eyes had at least one prior glaucoma surgery. IOP was reduced from a mean of 37.2±6.8 mm Hg to 19.2±5.2 mm Hg after 5y follow-up with a reduced number of medications from 2.64±0.59 to 1.81±0.4. Complete and qualified success rates were 31.5% and 46.0% respectively at the end of follow-up. The most common complications were encapsulated cyst formation in 51 eyes (41.1%), complicated cataract in 9 eyes (7.25%), recessed tube in 8 eyes (6.45%), tube exposure in 6 eyes (4.8%) and corneal touch in 6 eyes (4.8%). Other complications included extruded AGV, endophthalmitis and persistent hypotony. Each of them was recorded in only 2 eyes (1.6%). CONCLUSION: Although refractory glaucoma is a difficult problem to manage, AGV is effective and relatively safe procedure in treating refractory glaucoma in Egyptian patients with long-term follow-up. Encapsulated cyst formation was the most common complication, which limits successful IOP control after AGV implantation. However, effective complications management can improve the rate of success.     

A study of glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty

PURPOSE: To identify the incidence and risk factors associated with the development of glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in 228 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty from January 1995 to January 2000 at the Cornea Section of the Ophthalmology Service at the School of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlandia MG, Brazil. Follow-up time ranged from 4 to 60 months (mean, 17.14 +/- 13.65). RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-eight patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty were evaluated and 49 (21.5%) developed glaucoma. Risk factors for developing glaucoma were bullous keratopathy [relative risk (RR) = 2.1774), herpesvirus (RR = 1.8979), and trauma (RR = 1.0575). Mean intraocular pressure before transplantation was 15.26 +/- 5.37 mm Hg. Intraocular pressure after transplantation ranged from 22 to 58 mm Hg, with a mean value of 30.04 +/- 7.06 mm Hg. Thirty-six (73.5%) patients had medical treatment, 10 (20.4%) had medical and surgical treatment, and three (6.1%) had surgical treatment. Final intraocular pressure ranged from 4 to 34 mm Hg (mean, 16.79 +/- 5.36). CONCLUSION: The incidence of glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty is high, and the risk factors include aphakic/pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, herpes simplex virus, and trauma.     

Photodynamic modulation of wound healing in glaucoma filtration surgery

AIM: To report a clinical pilot study investigating photodynamic therapy (PDT) in combination with glaucoma filtration surgery. BCECF-AM was used as the photosensitising substance. The clinical safety and tolerability of BCECF-AM, and its efficacy in controlling postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed. METHODS: Before trabeculectomy (TE), 42 consecutive eyes of 36 glaucoma patients received one subconjunctival injection of 80 micro g BCECF-AM (2,7,-bis- (2-carboxyethyl) -5- (and-6) -carboxy-fluorescein, acetoxymethyl-ester) followed by an intraoperative illumination with blue light (lambda = 450-490 nm) for 8 minutes. Antifibrotic efficacy was established as postoperative IOP reduction of >20% and/or an IOP constantly < 21 mm Hg without antiglaucomatous medication. Follow up of the filtering bleb was documented by slit lamp examination. RESULTS: Eyes had mean 1.1 preoperative surgical interventions (filtration and non-filtration glaucoma surgery). Mean preoperative IOP was 31.6 (SD 9.7) mm Hg. Patients were followed for mean 496 days (range 3.5-31.8 months). Of the 42 eyes, 25 eyes had an IOP decreased to 15.8 (3.4) mm Hg without medication (complete success: 59.5%; p<0.001; t test). Seven eyes showed good IOP reduction < 21 mm Hg under topical antiglaucomatous medication (qualified success: 16.7%). 10 eyes failed because of scarring within 2-67 weeks (23.8%). Clinical follow up examinations revealed no local toxicity, no uveitis, and no endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: This method is a new approach in modulating postoperative wound healing in human eyes undergoing glaucoma filtration surgery. The data of the first human eyes combining TE with PDT underline the clinical safety of this method and its possible potential to prolong bleb survival.