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Results of a filtering procedure in low tension glaucoma

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Abstract

Twenty-six eyes of twenty patients with established low tension glaucoma, who had either a ‘double flap’ Scheie filtering operation or a trabeculectomy, were followed over a period ranging from one to ten years, with a median of three years. These 26 eyes include two second eyes that served as a contralateral control eye until the visual field deteriorated. All 26 eyes showed progression of visual field defects preoperatively, while postoperatively only 2 eyes showed further progression. Of the 16 nonoperated contralateral eyes, 7 showed progression of visual field defects over the same follow-up period. Two of these 7 eyes had to be operated during the study-period. The difference in progression between the operated and the non-operated eyes was significant (P<0.01). The diltering procedure provided a reduction in IOP of 20% or more in 21 of 26 eyes. There was a significant difference in the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) between the operated and the non-operated contralateral eye of 6.8 mmHg (37%) at one year postoperatively. The diurnal variation decreased highly significantly from 4.3 to 2.1 mmHg (P<0.001). It is concluded that filtering surgery in low tension glaucoma may result not only in a significant lowering of IOP, but is also effective in slowing further deterioration of the visual fields.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, P. O. Box 12141, 1100 AC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    N. de Jong & P. F. J. Hoyng

  2. Glaucoma Department, Eye Clinic of the University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    E. L. Greve & H. C. Geijssen

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, St. Lucas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    E. L. Greve, P. F. J. Hoyng & H. C. Geijssen

Authors
  1. N. de Jong
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  2. E. L. Greve
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  3. P. F. J. Hoyng
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  4. H. C. Geijssen
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Additional information

Supported in part by a grant from ‘De Rotterdamse Vereniging Blindenbelangen”.

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de Jong, N., Greve, E.L., Hoyng, P.F.J. et al. Results of a filtering procedure in low tension glaucoma. Int Ophthalmol 13, 131–138 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02028653

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