title: Long-term results after transconjunctival resuturing of the scleral flap in hypotony following trabeculectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the 4-year follow-up results in the surgical treatment of hypotony following trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in glaucoma patients with additional flap sutures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 2006, 53 patients with hypotony maculopathy attributable to overfiltration following glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy with mitomycin C) were included in this institutional study. We were able to follow up intraocular pressure (IOP) and distance-corrected visual acuity in 33 (62%) over 4 years, whereas all were followed over 2 years. To elevate IOP, we placed tangential transconjunctival sutures through the scleral flap and connected them to the adjacent sclera in all 53 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean IOP prior to surgery was 3.55 mm Hg (± 2.05; range 0-8 mm Hg), 20.08 mm Hg (± 12.48) on the first postoperative day, 10.69 mm Hg (± 4.73) after 1 month, 10.12 mm Hg (± 3.95) after 6 months, 10.42 mm Hg (± 4.17) after 2 years, and 9.5 mm Hg (± 3.93) after 4 years. Mean visual acuity (VA) improved from 0.8 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) preoperatively to 0.5 after 1 month, and remained stable after 6 months at 0.3. Macular folds resolved in all patients and choroidal detachment in 51 patients (96%) after 6 months. IOP increase and vision improvement were statistically significant (<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even 4 years after resuturing of the scleral flap through the intact conjunctiva, there is evidence that this surgical method is an effective and simple technique to treat hypotony maculopathy after glaucoma surgery.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany. judith.eha@unimedizin-mainz.de
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Eha
authors: Esther Maria
authors: EM
authors: Hoffmann
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015814:Ocular Hypotension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013997:Time Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome