Prospective evaluation of wipe-out after glaucoma filtration surgery in eyes with split fixation

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To assess the incidence and cause of idiopathic, irreversible loss of vision (“wipe?out”) in the early post?operative period after glaucoma?filtration surgery in advanced glaucoma. Methods: It was a prospective, interventional cohort study. Patients with advanced glaucoma and macular split fixation underwent either only trabeculectomy (group A) or combined phaco?emulsification with trabeculectomy (group B). The incidence and cause of visual loss, changes in intra?ocular pressure, visual acuity, and visual field indices during 2 months post surgery were assessed. Results: Thirty patients (30 eyes) were divided in two groups. No significant difference was noted between the pre?operative and post?operative mean deviations in both groups (P = 0.41, P = 0.65). Two eyes in group A and one eye in group B had visual loss of two lines or more at the end of 2 months because of cataract and choroidal detachment. None of the eyes showed “wipe?out”. Conclusion: “Wipe?out” is a rare phenomenon after surgery in advanced glaucoma