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Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a common procedure to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma. However, reports are conflicting regarding what factors contribute to SLT success. The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of SLT success.Retrospective case series.All patients treated with SLT between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2018.Baseline, demographic, procedural, and ophthalmic examination data were recorded at the time of first SLT treatment. Intraocular pressure and medication data were recorded at all follow-up visits.Selective laser trabeculoplasty success was defined as IOP decrease of 20% or more from baseline at the 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits. Eyes were considered to have failed and were censored when additional SLT or glaucoma surgery was performed. Patients were excluded if they had less than 3 months of follow-up.A total of 997 eyes from 677 patients were included in the study. Mean age was 70.2±11.5 years. Selective laser trabeculoplasty success was achieved in 227 eyes (22.8%), whereas 770 eyes (77.2%) did not meet success criteria. Intraocular pressure before SLT was 21.9±5.2 mmHg while taking 2.0±1.2 medications in eyes with successful SLT, compared with 19.0±5.0 mmHg (P0.0001) while taking 2.1±1.3 medications (P = 0.52) in eyes with SLT failure. At the 1-year follow-up, mean IOP in eyes with SLT success was 14.7±3.2 mmHg with 2.0±1.2 medications, compared with 16.3±4.7 mmHg (P = 0.008) with a mean of 1.9±1.3 medications (P = 0.37) in eyes with SLT failure. Eyes with SLT success more often showed greater angle pigment (P = 0.03). Age, glaucoma severity, total SLT power, type of glaucoma, severity of glaucoma, visual field mean defect, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were not found to correlate with success. No difference was found between the rate of success based on treatments before SLT, whether surgical or medical.In this large cohort of eyes undergoing SLT, greater IOP and angle pigment before SLT correlated positively with SLT success. Age, total SLT power, severity of glaucoma, and prior treatments were not associated with SLT success or failure.

PURPOSE To assess the viability of a manufactured high-density polyethylene patch graft material (Su-Por) for prevention of tube shunt exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective review of the first 11 patients from the Wills Eye Hospital Glaucoma Service to receive the high-density polyethylene patch graft during tube shunt surgery. RESULTS Four patients (36.3%) experienced an extrusion of the Su-Por patch without a leak within 2.5 months of postoperative follow-up. All 4 patients developed either symptomatic or progressive extrusion. Operative repair was completed with Su-Por removal and replacement with a new human donor patch graft. No patient developed any sign of infection despite the extrusions. The remaining 7 patients had an uneventful postoperative course and continue to have no complications from the Su-Por patch with 9 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Given the high rate of extrusion of the Su-Por graft, this material seems to be an inadequate alternative for covering tube shunts. Harvested human tissue or other more flexible, manufactured grafts remain the standard of care for covering tube shunts.

Purpose To assess the ability of Disc Damage Likelihood Scale (DDLS) in detecting glaucomatous changes in the optic nerve on sequential optic disc stereo-photographs as compared with three other different cup/disc grading systems (C/D). Methods Eighty-three pairs of stereo-photographs with a minimum of 5-year follow-up were examined by one group of three observers masked to chronological order by using their clinical expertise. Their conclusions were considered gold standard. Another group of three glaucoma experts examined the same masked pairs to evaluate glaucomatous changes using four different optic nerve grading systems: DDLS, vertical, horizontal, and maximal cup/disc. Ratings of these four methods in the second group were then compared with the gold standard. Results Baseline and follow-up photographs of 83 eyes were included. Mean follow-up was 6 years. The sensitivities for detecting glaucomatous nerve changes were 71.4%, 63.9%, 66.7%, and 47.2% for DDLS, vertical, horizontal, and maximal cup/disc, respectively. The specificity for finding nerve change was 70.9%, 51.1%, 40.4%, and 48.9%, respectively. The proportion of photographs identified as showing glaucomatous changes differed significantly between the DDLS and vertical C/D (VCD) (X2=7.900, p=0.005), between the DDLS and horizontal C/D (HCD) (X2=13.89, p=0.000), and between DDLS and maximum C/D (MCD) (X2=4.192, p=0.041). The largest area (74.4%) under the receiver operator characteristic curve was obtained by using the DDLS. Conclusions DDLS had higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting glaucomatous changes versus the other three C/Ds when considering sequential stereo-photographs.

* PURPOSE: To assess patient comfort using combined anterior sub-Tenon's, topical, and intracameral ("Blitz") anesthesia versus retrobulbar anesthesia in glaucoma surgery. * PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 139 consecutive patients who received retrobulbar anesthesia and 139 consecutive patients who received Blitz anesthesia during glaucoma surgery were evaluated in a prospective fashion. The retrobulbar group included 49 trabeculectomies, 36 aqueous shunts, and 54 phacotrabeculectomies. The Blitz group included 49 trabeculectomies, 30 aqueous shunts, and 60 phacotrabeculectomies. Patients were asked to assess their level of ocular pain operatively and postoperatively on a 10point visual analog scale. The operative and postoperative pain scores and postoperative sedation of patients receiving retrobulbar anesthesia were compared with those of patients receiving Blitz anesthesia during trabeculectomy, phacotrabeculectomy, and aqueous shunt surgery, separately. * RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in the mean operative or postoperative pain scores between the two groups during trabeculectomy, phacotrabeculectomy, or aqueous shunt surgery. * CONCLUSIONS: Blitz anesthesia offers a reasonable alternative to retrobulbar anesthesia for trabeculectomy, phacotrabeculectomy, and aqueous shunt surgery. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 2002;33:456-462]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcome of aqueous shunts in the treatment of infantile glaucoma refractory to conventional treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of all patients up to 3 years of age managed with aqueous shunts for uncontrolled glaucoma between November 1990 and November 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. Ten eyes of 6 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 29.75 ±4.15 (mm Hg; SD), with none of the eyes on antiglaucoma medication. Postoperatively, the mean IOP was 18.25 ± 5.34 (mm Hg; SD) at a mean follow up of 50 ± 25.6 (SD) months with 7 eyes on topical antiglaucoma medication. At the final follow up, 6 eyes were considered successfully controlled without reintervention, 2 more were controlled after shunt revision, and 2 were considered failures. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous shunts were relatively effective in this series of infants with recalcitrant glaucoma. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 2002:33:19-29]

Purpose To determine whether digital ocular compression is a viable technique to lower intraocular pressure in patients at least 3 months after trabeculectomy. Patients and methods A 6-month prospective, randomized, controlled, single-masked trial of 29 patients who underwent a trabeculectomy at the Glaucoma Service of Wills Eye Hospital. Patients were assigned to two groups: ocular compression or cheekbone compression (control group). The ocular compression group performed compression to the operated eye three times a day in the pattern of 10 seconds of pressure, 5 seconds of rest, and 10 seconds of pressure. Pressure was applied with the index finger through the closed lid to the center of the cornea. Pressure was steady and firm, but not painful. No massaging was performed. The cheekbone compression group applied pressure to the zygomatic arch with an identical style and frequency. Results At 6 months, the change in mean intraocular pressure for the ocular compression group was 0.25 mm Hg compared with -0.44 mm Hg for the control group (P = 0.7). A few patients in both groups experienced large swings in intraocular pressure and mild to moderate discomfort. Conclusion Ocular compression had little to no success in the long-term management of increased intraocular pressure in the late postoperative period in this study.

* OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the outcome of functioning filtration surgery followed by cataract surgery with posterior intraocular lens implantation by both phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) techniques in glaucomatous eyes. * PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical course of 77 eyes (68 patients) that after successful trabeculectomy, underwent cataract surgery by either phacoemulsification or ECCE techniques. We determined the frequency of partial and absolute failure following cataract surgery by either phacoemulsification or ECCE in eyes with functioning trabeculectomies. Partial failure of intraocular pressure (IOP), control after cataract extraction was defined as the need for an increased number of antiglaucoma medications or argon laser trabeculoplasty to maintain IOP 21 mm Hg on at least two consecutive measurements one or more weeks apart or the performance of additional filtration surgery. Failure rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method. Failure rates between phacoemulsification and ECCE subgroups were compared using the log rank test. * RESULTS: The probability of partial failure by the third postoperative year after cataract surgery was 39.5% in the phacoemulsification subgroup and 37.3% in the ECCE subgroup. This small difference is not statistically significant (P= 0.48). The probability of complete failure by the fourth postoperative year after cataract surgery was 12.0% in the phacoemulsification subgroup and 12.5% in the ECCE subgroup. This difference is also not statistically significant (P = 0.77). At the 6-month follow-up visit, visual acuity of both groups improved one or more lines in 87.0% of patients, and worsened one or more lines in 3.9% of patients. Sixty-one percent achieved visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The most frequent complication was posterior capsular opacification requiring laser capsulotomy that occurred in 31.2% of patients. * CONCLUSION: Cataract extraction by either phacoemulsification or ECCE following trabeculectomy surgery may be associated with a partial loss of the previously functioning filter and the need for more antiglaucoma medications to control IOP. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 2001;32:108-117]

Purpose To report the long-term outcome of ten patients with iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome who underwent aqueous shunt surgery for uncontrolled glaucoma. Design Noncomparative, retrospective case series. Participants The authors reviewed charts of ten patients with ICE syndrome-related glaucoma who underwent aqueous shunt surgery at one institution between 1987 and 1996. Main outcome measures Intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and further surgical interventions were measured. Results With a median follow-up of 55 months, four eyes had adequate IOP control (IOP Conclusion Aqueous shunt surgery appears to be an effective method for IOP lowering in some eyes with ICE syndrome-related glaucoma when medical treatment or conventional filtration surgeries fail, but additional glaucoma procedures and/or aqueous shunt revisions and tube repositionings are not uncommon.

Objective To detect and quantitate changes in optic nerve morphology after glaucoma surgery using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT, Heidelberg Instruments, Heidelberg, Germany). Design Nonconsecutive observational case series. Participants and intervention The authors prospectively enrolled 21 adult patients undergoing incisional glaucoma surgery for progressive glaucoma damage. Quantitative analysis of the optic nerve head by scanning laser tomography and automated perimetry were performed before and after glaucoma surgery. Main outcome measures Changes in optic nerve parameters were subjected to linear regression analysis with respect to percent of postoperative reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as with respect to age, refraction, preoperative cup:disc ratio, and change in visual field parameters. Results Seventeen patients had pre- and postoperative images suitable for analysis. Mean IOP at the time of image acquisition before surgery was 30.5 ± 12 mmHg, and after surgery 11.8 ± 5.2 mmHg (mean follow-up, 26 ± 7 weeks). Eleven of 13 (85%) patients having IOP reduction of greater than 40% showed improvement in optic disc parameters. All four patients with less than 25% reduction in IOP showed worsening of most parameters. Changes in optic disc parameters were highly correlated with percent IOP reduction and with age. The parameters in which change most strongly correlated with percent change of IOP were cup area, rim area, cup:disc ratio, and mean cup depth (each, P P P = 0.025). Conclusion Most patients showing a 40% lowering of IOP after glaucoma surgery show improved optic nerve morphology as measured by the HRT. The amount of improvement correlated highly with the percent reduction of IOP.

AIMS—To evaluate the outcome of filtering procedures supplemented with mitomycin C in children with glaucoma. METHODS—All patients aged 17 or younger with glaucoma who underwent filtering surgery supplemented with mitomycin C at a tertiary care centre (n=21) during a 5 year interval (1992 and 1996) were included. One eye for each patient was entered into the analysis. The postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), use of antiglaucoma medications, clinical stability of glaucoma, complications, and visual acuity were retrospectively evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate the probability of success. RESULTS—At the time of surgery mean age was 5.7 (SD 5.0) years. The most common diagnoses were trabeculodysgenesis (n=6) and aphakic glaucoma (n=8). Mean IOP before surgery was 35.7 (10.5) mm Hg. Average length of follow up was 18.6 (14.7) months. The probability of having IOP less than 21 mm Hg with no antiglaucoma medications and with clinically stable glaucoma 1 year after surgery was 76.9% in phakic eyes (n=13) and 0% in aphakic eyes (n=8). A phakic patient with Sturge-Weber's syndrome had choroidal effusion after surgery that resolved spontaneously. In the aphakic group one patient had retinal detachment and another developed an encapsulated bleb. Visual acuity deteriorated in one patient. CONCLUSION—A guarded filtration procedure with mitomycin C is relatively successful in phakic children with glaucoma, but unsuccessful in aphakic ones. Keywords: mitomycin C; filtration procedure; children; glaucoma

* BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of Baerveldt implantation with adjunctive mitomycin-C in cases of complicated glaucoma. * PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the charts of all patients who had undergone Baerveldt implantation with mitomycin-C between January 1993 and March 1995. Success was defined before data collection as an intraocular pressure (IOP) between 5 and 21 mm Hg, with or without medications. The success rate was calculated using the Kaplan- Meier actuarial method. * RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were identified. The mean preoperative IOP was 33.6 mm Hg, with an average of 2.0 antiglaucoma medications. The probability of success at 6 and 12 months for patients who received mitomycin-C during Baerveldt implantation was 82.4% and 73.3%, respectively. Choroidal effusion with a flat anterior chamber (10.3%), corneal edema (6.8%), and conjunctival erosion (6.8%) were the most frequent complications. * CONCLUSION: In this retrospective series of complicated glaucoma, the implantation of a Baerveldt drainage device with adjunctive mitomycin-C had a satisfactory outcome. The complications encountered and the clinical efficacy were comparable to those of previously reported series in which mitomycin-C was not used. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 1997;28:992-997.]

* BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of encapsulated blebs after guarded filtration procedures with mitomycin-C. * PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the charts of all patients who had undergone a guarded filtration procedure with mitomycin-C. There were 235 patients (283 cases) who had more than 1 month of follow-up. * RESULTS: An encapsulated bleb developed in 7 eyes (2.47%) of 6 patients. Identification of bleb encapsulation occurred at a mean follow-up time of 29.7 ± 14.6 days after surgery. The mean intraocular pressure at that point was 24.2 ± 13.5 mm Hg in the affected eyes. Three eyes were treated medically, and needling was performed in 4 eyes. * CONCLUSION: There is a low frequency of encapsulated bleb formation after guarded filtration procedures with adjunctive mitomycin-C. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers 1997;28:805-809.]

Purpose: To determine whether color Doppler hemodynamic changes occur in the retrobulbar circulation after trabeculectomy. Methods: The authors prospectively enrolled 20 patients undergoing trabeculectomy and performed color Doppler imaging of both eyes before surgery and then at approximately 2-, 5-, and 14-week intervals after surgery. The systolic maximum velocity, mean velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and vascular resistance (resistance index) of the central retinal artery, nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries, and ophthalmic arteries were determined. Statistical comparison of the preoperative and postoperative measures were performed on both the operative and nonoperative eye using the paired Student's t test. Results: A statistically significant increase was observed in the mean and enddiastolic velocity and a significant decrease in the vascular resistance of the central retinal artery and both short posterior ciliary arteries at nearly all postoperative intervals (25 of 27 preoperative and postoperative comparisons; P P Conclusion: Sustained increases in mean velocity and end-diastolic velocity and decreases in resistance index were observed in the central retinal artery and the short posterior arteries with clinically attainable reductions in intraocular pressure after trabeculectomy in patients with chronic glaucoma. These findings are consistent with, but not diagnostic of, increased blood flow through these vessels.

Intraoperative mitomycin C has been shown to be highly effective in increasing the success rate of glaucoma filtration surgery. Between October 1991 and June 1992, 169 eyes of 156 patients underwent filtration procedures with intraoperative mitomycin C. In the postoperative period, five eyes (2.9%) developed hypotony maculopathy, characterized by disc edema, vascular tortuosity, and chorioretinal folds in the macular area. Cryotherapy was applied to three eyes, and was effective in reversing the hypotony in two of them. However, the visual prognosis was poor: after a mean follow up of 5.3 months (range, 3.5 to 8 months), visual acuity returned to preoperative levels in one case. Hypotony maculopathy may develop after glaucoma filtration surgery with intraoperative mitomycin C. We suggest restricting the indication of its adjunctive use to eyes with poor surgical prognosis or those in which a very low intraocular pressure is desired. The use of extra sutures (which can be sectioned by laser) or releasable sutures to prevent excessive filtration in the postoperative period also is advisable.

In a prospective study 155 consecutive patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty were examined for postoperative increase in intraocular pressure to determine the frequency and duration of intraocular pressure spikes, risk factors, and response to treatment. Patients were maintained on preoperative glaucoma medications except miotics. Additional medications to lower intraocular pressure perioperatively were not given. Intraocular pressure was measured two to five hours, one day, and one week postoperatively. An intraocular pressure of 30 mm Hg or greater was considered an increase in pressure and was treated according to a standardized protocol. The results were analyzed by procedure as well as by variables commonly perceived to be associated with intraocular pressure increase (history of glaucoma, use of hyaluronate, lysis of the synechiae, or vitrectomy at the time of the operation). Overall, intraocular pressure increases in the early postoperative period occurred in 18 of 155 patients (12%). Pressure increases occurred in ten of 48 patients (21%) with a history of glaucoma; five of 24 patients (21%) undergoing combined penetrating keratoplasty, extracapsular cataract extraction, and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation; and ten of 43 patients (23%) undergoing vitrectomy at the time of penetrating keratoplasty.

Aims To evaluate interobserver agreement and interpretation time for three clinically available formats of visual field presentation: serial Humphrey visual field (HVF), STATPAC2 and PROGRESSOR. Methods 40 field series from the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study were presented to eight glaucoma specialists and eight comprehensive ophthalmologists to determine whether each field series was stable or progressive. Interobserver agreement and agreement with Hodapp–Parrish–Anderson criteria were evaluated using κ statistics, and the interpretation time was compared. Results For glaucoma specialists, median κ values for interobserver agreement were 0.47, 0.60 and 0.43 for HVF, STATPAC2 and PROGRESSOR, respectively. Respective κ values for comprehensive ophthalmologists were 0.43, 0.43 and 0.35. For glaucoma specialists, median κ values for agreement with Hodapp–Parrish–Anderson criteria were 0.52, 0.67 and 0.52 for HVF, STATPAC2 and PROGRESSOR, respectively. Respective κ values for comprehensive ophthalmologists were 0.41, 0.47 and 0.33. For glaucoma specialists, the mean±SD interpretation time for the series of 40 fields was 63.4±35.9, 57.1±23.1 and 41.1±15.3 min using HVF, STATPAC2 and PROGRESSOR, respectively. Respective interpretation times for comprehensive ophthalmologists were 72.9±38.3, 68.6±30.6 and 51±24.1 min. Interpretation time was decreased when STATPAC2 or PROGRESSOR was used rather than HVF. Time reduction was significant for glaucoma specialists using PROGRESSOR (p=0.02). Conclusions For glaucoma specialists, interobserver agreement and agreement with HPA criteria were moderate to substantial. For comprehensive ophthalmologists, interobserver agreement and agreement with HPA criteria were fair to moderate. Field interpretation time may be reduced clinically when using STATPAC2 or PROGRESSOR rather than HVF.

The authors conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to test whether the Schocket shunt with a larger shunt reservoir surface area would provide a lower final intraocular pressure than the double-plate Molteno implant. However, the Molteno implant produced a statistically lower intraocular pressure at 6 months compared with the Schocket shunt. Postoperative visual acuity, glaucoma medications, and complications were not statistically different.

To evaluate the color Doppler imaging (CDI) parameters of the retrobulbar circulation, we performed color Doppler imaging in both eyes of 29 glaucomatous patients with asymmetric cups [asymmetry >0.3 cup/disc ratio (C/D)] and asymmetric visual field loss. We used the QAD-1 Color Doppler unit (Quantum Medical Systems Inc.) with a 7.5-MHz linear-phased transducer to calculate the pulsatility index, and the peak systolic, end diastolic, and average blood-flow velocities in the ophthalmic, central retinal, nasal, and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries of each eye. In a second analysis, we compared the results of a randomly selected eye of age- and sex-matched controls. Paired t tests did not show any significant difference between the blood-flow velocities of the more damaged and less damaged eyes when the entire 29-patient group was considered together. The power was adequate to detect a 1.0 cm/s difference in most of the analyzed vessels. Thirteen of the 29 patients had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and the remaining eyes had pseudoexfoliation and low tension, pigmentary, and chronic angle-closure glaucoma. When compared to age- and sex-matched controls, the less damaged eyes of patients with POAG displayed reduced systolic, diastolic, and mean velocities (p < 0.05) in the ophthalmic artery. In comparison, the more damaged eyes revealed statistically reduced velocities in the ophthalmic artery, temporal short posterior ciliary artery, and in all the parameters for the mean values of the short posterior ciliary arteries (p < 0.05). More advanced optic nerve damage in patients with POAG correlated with more severe reductions of CDI parameters of the retrobulbar circulation of patients with asymmetric disease. Further clinical color Doppler correlations are now mandatory to determine whether these vascular changes are pathogenetically important or epiphenomena.

PURPOSE To determine the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of a fixed timolol/dorzolamide combination (Cosopt) for patients with IOP over 30 mm Hg. STUDY DESIGN Prospective interventional case series. METHODS Eighteen patients being seen on the Wills Eye Hospital Glaucoma Service with at least one eye with an IOP > 30 mm Hg were recruited. None had used any glaucoma medications for at least 1 month. IOP was confirmed by diurnal testing. Cosopt was administered at 9 am and 9 pm. Trough IOP measurements were made at 9 am and peak IOP measurements at 11 am at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months. Pretreatment and posttreatment IOPs were compared using a paired-samples independent t test. RESULTS Mean pretreatment IOP was 37.5 +/- 1.0 mm Hg. Baseline posttreatment IOP was 18.4 +/- 0.5 mm Hg (P < 0.01). At 2 months, the mean trough IOP was 21.1 +/- 0.9 mm Hg and the peak, 17.6 +/- 0.6 mm Hg (each, P < 0.01, as compared with pretreatment baseline IOP). One patient did not respond to Cosopt; two had a clinically insufficient response and did not complete the study. Data from these patients were included in the analysis. CONCLUSIONS Over 80% of the eyes responded to Cosopt, with an average trough IOP reduction of 40% at 2 months.

To assess patient comfort using combined anterior sub-Tenon's, topical, and intracameral ("Blitz") anesthesia versus retrobulbar anesthesia in glaucoma surgery.In this study, 139 consecutive patients who received retrobulbar anesthesia and 139 consecutive patients who received Blitz anesthesia during glaucoma surgery were evaluated in a prospective fashion. The retrobulbar group included 49 trabeculectomies, 36 aqueous shunts, and 54 phacotrabeculectomies. The Blitz group included 49 trabeculectomies, 30 aqueous shunts, and 60 phacotrabeculectomies. Patients were asked to assess their level of ocular pain operatively and postoperatively on a 10-point visual analog scale. The operative and postoperative pain scores and postoperative sedation of patients receiving retrobulbar anesthesia were compared with those of patients receiving Blitz anesthesia during trabeculectomy, phacotrabeculectomy, and aqueous shunt surgery, separately.No statistically significant difference was found in the mean operative or postoperative pain scores between the two groups during trabeculectomy, phacotrabeculectomy, or aqueous shunt surgery.Blitz anesthesia offers a reasonable alternative to retrobulbar anesthesia for trabeculectomy, phacotrabeculectomy, and aqueous shunt surgery.

PURPOSE The authors determined the effectiveness of two different methods of modification of Baerveldt aqueous shunts in the control of early postoperative intraocular pressure. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed charts of 122 eyes of 113 patients who underwent a Baerveldt 350-mm(2) modified with tube fenestration and charts of 129 eyes of 122 patients who underwent a Baerveldt 350-mm(2) modified with a nonocclusive ligature to examine early postoperative intraocular pressure control. In the fenestration group, the tube was modified with a 4-0 intraluminal suture and an occlusive 6-0 external polyglactin ligature before ocular placement. After ocular placement, the tube was further modified with one to three perforating fenestrations. In the nonocclusive-ligature group, the tube was modified with a 4-0 nylon intraluminal suture with a nonocclusive 6-0 external polyglactin ligature before ocular placement. RESULTS A total of 94 eyes (77%) achieved adequate intraocular pressure control with or without adjunctive medications and. A total of 28 eyes (23%) had postoperative hypertension or hypotony in the fenestration group versus 81 (62.8%) and 48 (37.2%) eyes in the nonocclusive-ligature group (P = 0.014), respectively. The mean change in intraocular pressure preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively was 18.2 mm Hg versus 21.0 mm Hg (P = 0.11) in the fenestration and nonocclusive-ligature groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Both the nonocclusive ligature and the fenestration methods provide desirable decreases in intraocular pressure in the immediate postoperative period and 3 months postoperatively; however, the fenestration modification may achieve adequate intraocular pressure control more often in the early postoperative period.

To evaluate the long-term outcome of aqueous shunts in the treatment of infantile glaucoma refractory to conventional treatment.The records of all patients up to 3 years of age managed with aqueous shunts for uncontrolled glaucoma between November 1990 and November 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. Ten eyes of 6 patients were included in the study.The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 29.75 +/- 4.15 (mm Hg; SD), with none of the eyes on antiglaucoma medication. Postoperatively, the mean IOP was 18.25 +/- 5.34 (mm Hg; SD) at a mean follow up of 50 +/- 25.6 (SD) months with 7 eyes on topical antiglaucoma medication. At the final follow up, 6 eyes were considered successfully controlled without reintervention, 2 more were controlled after shunt revision, and 2 were considered failures.Aqueous shunts were relatively effective in this series of infants with recalcitrant glaucoma.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the Mozart effect on the reliability of the Humphrey visual field (HVF; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) test in subjects with glaucoma. A previous study showed improved reliability in normal subjects undergoing HVF testing. METHODS One hundred sixty subjects with glaucoma were randomized to three groups: control, headphones, or music for 10 minutes before HVF testing. The headphone group was provided noise-cancellation headphones but no music. The music group listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major. After treatment, subjects took an HVF test in both eyes. The reliability of the test was then compared between the groups and also to prior HVF results with regard to fixation losses, false positives, and false negatives. RESULTS The rate of fixation losses did not differ significantly between the three groups (P = 0.30 right eye, P = 0.24 left eye). There were also no significant differences in the rate of false positives (P = 0.82 right eye, P = 0.18 left eye) or false negatives (P = 0.91 right eye, P = 0.97 left eye). The reliability of the subject's HVF result was also compared with past field results. No improvements were seen in fixation losses (P = 0.94 right eye, P = 0.17 left eye), false positives (P = 0.85 right eye, P = 0.38 left eye), and false negatives (P = 0.13 right eye, P = 0.50 left eye). CONCLUSIONS The rate of fixation losses, false positives, and false negatives did not improve in subjects with glaucoma after they listened to Mozart's music. The Mozart effect did not enhance the reliability of the visual field test to a statistically significant degree (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01027039).

The charts were reviewed of all patients who underwent primary trabeculectomies (group 1) or combined procedures (phacoemulsification + intraocular lens implantation + trabeculectomy--group 2) and received intraoperative mitomycin C (0.4 mg/ml) between 1991 and 1992 at Wills Eye Hospital. A total of 54 eyes of 54 patients were included: 39 in group 1 and 15 in group 2. Intraocular pressure was controlled successfully in 97.4% of eyes in group 1 (mean follow up 6.7 months), and in 93.3% in group 2 (mean follow up 6.8 months). Main complications included choroidal detachment (n = 15), shallow anterior chamber (n = 9), cataract formation (n = 8), and hypotony maculopathy (n = 3). The use of mitomycin C in primary trabeculectomies and combined procedures is associated with high success rates. However, it may be associated with unacceptable risks of vision threatening complications related to excessive filtration.

Purpose To evaluate an alternate method of covering the subconjunctival portion of the tube in aqueous shunt surgery. Evidence of tube erosion, graft-related infection, graft melting, or other associated intraocular complications were evaluated. Methods A retrospective study of 16 patients (17 eyes) who underwent tube shunt surgery at Wills Eye Hospital between July 1991 and October 1996 was conducted. An autologous either "free" or "rotating" scleral lamellar graft was created to cover the subconjunctival portion of the tube shunt. Results All patients were evaluated for at least 6 months, with a mean follow-up of 14.8 months (range 6-62 months). All eyes tolerated the autologous graft well, with no clinical evidence of tube erosion, or graft-related or intraocular complications. Conclusion Autologous patch graft in tube shunt surgery appears--in selected cases--to be an effective, safe and inexpensive surgical alternative to allogenic graft materials. It also offers ease of availability, and eliminates the risk of transmitting infectious disease.

Editor,—Determination of the mechanism of acutely elevated intraocular pressure is extremely difficult if not impossible in the presence of impaired transparency of the anterior ocular segment. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), a high resolution (50 MHz) ultrasonographic technique, can be helpful in determining the underlying mechanisms in such a case.12 ### CASE REPORT A 61-year-old man presented with severe pain and profound visual impairment in his right eye. Ophthalmic examination revealed visual acuities of hand movement in the right eye and 20/30 in the left. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 53 mm Hg in the right eye and 14 mm Hg in the left. Slit lamp biomicroscopy and gonioscopy of the left eye revealed a clear cornea, deep …

Purpose: This pilot study used color Doppler imaging to investigate the effects of nifedipine on the posterior ocular blood flow of patients with glaucoma progression at normal intraocular pressures. Patients and Methods: Eighteen patients. 11 men and seven women with a median age of 61.7 years, were imaged before and 6 weeks after the initiation of 30 mg of sustained-release nifedipine (Procardia XL; produced by either Pfizer or Pratt) daily. Results: There was no statistically significant change in the blood velocity of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and main nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries after treatment with nifedipine. Conclusion: The routine use of nifedipine in patients with normal tension glaucoma progression is not supported by this study.

AIMS--To evaluate the effect of the chronic use of apraclonidine 0.5% on the intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients with glaucoma; also, to study the side effect profile of this drug when used chronically. METHODS--All patients who had uncontrolled IOP, who were either already on glaucoma medications, or who were intolerant of other glaucoma medications were enrolled. A total of 185 patients were started on apraclonidine 0.5% two to three times a day in one eye. RESULTS--Follow up extended to 35 weeks. The mean difference in IOP between treated and control eyes was 2.1 (SD 5.0) mm Hg. A similar IOP lowering effect was obtained comparing IOP difference from baseline in the treated eye only. CONCLUSION--By the end of the follow up period, 46% of patients were still on the medication. The drug was stopped in 23% of patients because of side effects and in 31% of patients because of failure to lower IOP significantly.

The association of glaucoma and penetrating keratoplasty presents a difficult management problem, particularly when medical therapy and conventional glaucoma surgery have failed. We have found alloplastic tube shunt surgery to be an effective method for intraocular pressure control in glaucomatous eyes subjected to penetrating keratoplasty. We report 46 patients who underwent alloplastic tube shunt implantation before (13 patients, group A), in combination with (17 patients, group B), or after (16 patients, group C) penetrating keratoplasty. All groups had significantly lowered intraocular pressure postoperatively. The most common complication was graft failure, in 31% of patients in group A, 29% in group B, and 44% in group C. Other postoperative complications and results including visual outcome are reviewed. Because the management of advanced glaucoma in patients undergoing keratoplasty is difficult, alloplastic tube shunt implantation should be considered.

A simple technique for reinforcing the aortoprosthetic anastomosis has been developed with use of a prosthetic cuff. No time is wasted obtaining hemostasis, and blood loss is minimized at the time of aortic clamp release. A study of these cuffed anastomoses in dogs shows tissue ingrowth in both prosthetic layers.