[The progression of primary operated glaucoma].

OBJECTIVE: Study of the causes responsible for glaucoma progression in patients operated for glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A series of 185 patients operated for primary open angle glaucoma were followed up for a mean period of 3.2 years. 46 patients had evidence of glaucoma progression: insufficient filtration was recognized as the cause in 23 patients, while blockage of the filtering bleb was responsible for the rest of 23 cases. RESULTS: Progression of glaucoma was detected in 19.32% of patients with functional filtering bleb; 44.1% of patients with intraocular pressure between 16 and 21 mmHg did not show disease progression; 8 out of 23 patients needed a new trabeculectomy; internal obstruction of the bleb was demonstrated in 8 cases; 4 patients needed additional medical therapy; internal revision of the bleb (3 cases) and a new trabeculectomy gave the best results; external obstruction of the bleb was found in 15 patients; 7 had a diffuse fibrovascular proliferation and 8 had an encapsulated bleb. We used a new trabeculectomy for diffuse fibrovascular proliferation and a cystotomy or a cystectomy for encapsulated bleb. The results were good in almost all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma progression appears even with postoperative intraocular pressures within statistical normality; identification of the causes responsible for glaucoma progression insures individualized treatment with constant good results.