title: Conjunctival fibrosis following filtering glaucoma surgery.
abstract: Despite advances in surgical technique and postoperative care, fibrosis remains the major impediment to a marked reduction of intraocular pressure without the need of additional medication (complete success) following filtering glaucoma surgery. Several aspects specific to filtering surgery may contribute to enhanced fibrosis. Changes in conjunctival tissue structure and composition due to preceding treatments as well as alterations in interstitial fluid flow and content due to aqueous humor efflux may act as important drivers of fibrosis. In light of these pathophysiological considerations, current and possible future strategies to control fibrosis following filtering glaucoma surgery are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Eye Center, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: guenther.schlunck@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schlunck
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meyer-ter-Vehn
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klink
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grehn
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000502:physiology; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Extracellular matrix; Fibrosis; Glaucoma; Mechanotransduction; Surgery; TGF-beta