ABSTRACT
Complications attributable to large conjunctival blebs after glaucoma filtering surgery range from annoying foreign-body sensation to devastating endophthalmitis. We used the argon laser to shrink large complicated blebs in four eyes of four patients who had previously undergone glaucoma filtering surgery. The eye is first anesthetized with a topical agent. The bleb surface is lightly abraded with a sterile cotton swab and then "painted" with a tissue-staining dye. Diffuse laser burns applied over the surface resulted in sufficient shrinkage to allow resolution of the respective symptoms or secondary complications in all four cases. The first two patients developed small leaks that we attribute to delivering laser burns to extremely thin areas of conjunctiva. In both cases the leaks gradually sealed over several weeks. None of the eyes developed increases in intraocular pressure or anterior segment inflammation. In each case, filtering capability was maintained.
Subject(s)
Conjunctival Diseases/surgery , Cysts/surgery , Laser Therapy , Postoperative Complications/surgery , Aged , Anesthesia, Local , Argon , Coloring Agents , Female , Glaucoma/surgery , Humans , Intraocular Pressure , Lasers/adverse effects , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
In a prospective study of systemic sarcoidosis, 28 patients underwent 55 conjunctival biopsies. The incidences of positive granulomatous lesions in proven and suspected sarcoidosis cases were 71.4% (ten of 14 patients) and 28.5% (four of 14 patients), respectively. Thus, random, bilateral conjunctival biopsies should be performed as soon as possible in all cases of presumed sarcoidosis.
