Corneal incision phacoemulsification and internal bleb revision.
OBJECTIVE
Cataract extraction in filtered eyes often leads to decreased outflow and, eventually, to bleb failure. The authors describe a surgical technique that promotes preservation of the filtering bleb.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed 19 eyes of 19 consecutive patients who underwent corneal incision phacoemulsification and simultaneous internal revision of the previous filtering bleb.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up time was 13.6 +/- 7.6 months. Visual acuity improved in all patients (89.4 percent achieved 20/40 or better). No significant difference was noted between preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressures and astigmatism. The bleb was preserved in 89.4 percent of the eyes at the time of the last follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This surgical technique proved to be safe and yielded good results.
Kasahara
N
N
The New England Eye Research Foundation, Boston, MA, USA.
Sibayan
S A
SA
Montenegro
M H
MH
Simmons
R B
RB
Smith
T J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity