title: A prospective study of consecutive patients undergoing full-thickness conjunctival/scleral hypotony sutures for clinical ocular hypotony.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a modified suturing technique for the treatment of hypotony.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective case series of 15 patients with hypotony from an overfiltering trabeculectomy underwent full-thickness hypotony sutures. The technique involves placing several radial interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures in the area of the prior trabeculectomy. The suture pass starts at the limbus, travels through the conjunctiva, and full-thickness sclera before exiting the conjunctiva. The sutures were selectively removed postoperatively to titrate the intraocular pressure (IOP). Hypotony resolution, IOP, visual acuity, and complications were assessed on postoperative visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before surgery, the mean IOP was 3.3 mm Hg. The mean IOP 1 day after surgery was 23.5 mm Hg, which settled to 12.9 mm Hg 3 months after surgery. Hypotony was reversed in 100% of patients and 87% achieved a goal IOP. Suture removal was performed in 73%, most within the first week after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placing full-thickness hypotony sutures is an effective way to treat ocular hypotony. Sutures can be removed postoperatively to titrate the IOP.
authors.affiliation: Glaucoma Service, Wills Eye Institute of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: Marlene R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Moster
authors.forename: Thandeka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Myeni
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trubnik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D009757:Nylons; D015814:Ocular Hypotension / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons