J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1988 Oct;29(5):893-900.

Early Postoperative Visual Acuity and Visual Field Change Following Filtration Surgery in Advanced Glaucomatous Damaged Eyes

• Lee CJ
• Jun AK
• Kim HS

Abstract

There has been many ophthalmologists warning sudden loss of central vision and small residual visual fields in far advanced glaucomatous damaged eyes after filtration surgery. Although this warning against glaucoma surgery in patients with limited visual fields has been a concern for over a century, little data exist to convincingly support this belief. The purpose of this paper is to share our experience in facing this dilemma. Authors performed filtration surgery on 31 eyes with advanced glaucomatous field defects and evaluated postoperative visual field and visual acuity at 8 weeks postoperatively in order to ensure if there was any change. The eyes were classified into three categories according to the severity of the visual field loss evaluated with Humphrey computerized visual field analyser. No patients suffered a sudden loss of central visual acuity or a rapidly progressive loss of small residual visual fields after filtration surgery during 8 weeks follow-up period. In the light of our clinical experiences, authers concluded that there was nothing to worry about in performing filtration surgery on far advanced glaucomatous damaged eyes just only because they have small residual visual fields.

MeSH Terms

Filtering Surgery*
Filtration*
Follow-Up Studies
Glaucoma
Humans
Visual Acuity*
Visual Fields*