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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of excisional revision of filtering blebs for hypotony or leakage when more conservative measures have failed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients who underwent excisional revision of a filtering bleb for hypotony (intraocular pressure (IOP) < 5 mmHg) or leakage during a three-year period. The revision consisted of excision of the avascular bleb, mobilization of the surrounding conjunctiva, and suturing of the conjunctiva at the limbus. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in the study. The average age of 66.3±14.8 years (range, 39-83 years). Revision followed trabeculectomy in 11 cases, combined phacoemulsification-trabeculectomy in three cases, and inadvertent blebs in two cases. Five cases had bleb leaks without hypotony, four cases had hypotony alone, and seven cases had both hypotony and a bleb leak. Average follow-up after bleb revision was 25±11 months (range, 9-43 months). Average IOP increased from 3.8±5.6 mmHg (range, 0-22 mmHg) to 11.9±4.1 mmHg (range, 3-18 mmHg), with an average of 1.1±1.1 medication (range, 0-3). The IOP at the last visit was < 15 mmHg in all but two patients, with ten of the 16 patients requiring medications. At the last follow-up examination, visual acuity had improved
Dr. J. Myers, Wills Eye Hospital, 900 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
12.8.11 Complications, endophthalmitis (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment > 12.8 Filtering surgery)