The development of encapsulated filtering blebs

Ophthalmology. 1988 Sep;95(9):1163-8. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(88)33041-1.

Abstract

The development of an encapsulated filtering bleb (Tenon's cyst) complicated 56 of 409 consecutive filtering operations (13.7%) performed during a 40-month period after January 1983. Fifteen eyes (27.8% of encapsulated blebs) required surgical revision. The recognition of bleb encapsulation occurred 20.4 +/- 12.7 days (mean +/- standard deviation) postoperatively. Prolonged duration of beta-adrenergic antagonist therapy was associated with an increased frequency of bleb encapsulation (180.6 +/- 128.5 weeks without encapsulation, 229.0 +/- 129.3 weeks with encapsulation, P less than 0.009). Bleb encapsulation occurred in 42 of 272 eyes with previous argon laser trabeculoplasty, but in only 4 of 85 eyes without any previous anterior segment laser (P less than 0.01). Encapsulated filtering blebs developed in 4 of 12 (33.3%) eyes with congenital glaucoma and 4 of 9 (44.4%) eyes with juvenile glaucoma (P less than 0.0002). The intraocular pressures (IOPs) in the eyes with encapsulated filtering blebs were significantly elevated at 1, 2, and 3 postoperative weeks, and at final follow-up compared with eyes without bleb encapsulation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Conjunctival Diseases / etiology*
  • Filtration
  • Glaucoma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Laser Therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists