Abstract
Purpose: :
to evaluate filtering bleb function by means of anterior segment time domain optical coherence tomography (AS-TDOCT).
Methods: :
Retrospective study of twenty-five eyes (20 patients) had undergone trabeculectomy between January 2005 and June 2010. Blebs were analyzed by commercially available AS-TDOCT (Stratus OCT, model 3000, Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. USA). The correlation between intraocular pressure (IOP) and 4 quantitative parameters, bleb height, bleb wall thickness and the height and extend of internal cavity, and 2 qualitative parameters, bleb wall reflectivity, and the presence or absence of posterior episcleral fluid, were analyzed.
Results: :
fourteen (70%) patients were male (mean age 64.1 ± 11.2 y). IOP was not correlated to the height and extend of internal cavity. Inverse correlation was found between IOP and bleb wall thickness (p=0.02). Low bleb reflectivity wall was correlated to lower IOP (p=0.01). The presence of posterior episcleral fluid was related to lower IOP (p=0.01).
Conclusions: :
AS-TDOCT represents a valid tool to evaluate filtering bleb function considering reflectivity bleb wall and episcleral fluid correlate to IOP.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • anterior segment • sclera