Recession of 4 Rectus Muscles for Neovascular Glaucoma or Absolute Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

We have performed recession of all 4 rectus muscle in 8 eyes with neovascular or absolute glaucoma. The visual acuity of these eyes ranged fram no light perception to recognition of hand motion. As the purpose of surgery was to destroy all anterior ciliary arteries from the rectus muscles, after performing 2mm recessions on all 4 rectus muscles we applied cryotherapy on the oclera from he original rite to the mear insertion site. The cases were followed up for periods ranging from 3 to 19 months, with an average of 10.3 months. At the end of follow-up periods, we observed a statistically significant drop (p<0.05) in the intraocular pressure level, from the preoperative leveI of 49.8 +/- 7.9 mmHg (mean +/-SD) to 36.6 +/- 18.1 mmHg without any additional medical therapy. However, the decreases were not notable. In the treatment of neovascular glaucoma for absolute glaucoma, we have found that simultaneous disruption of all anterior ciliary arteries through anterior segment ischemia will not result in a satisfactory decrease in postoperative intraocular pressure.