Surgical results in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome

The charts of 83 patients with iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-two eyes of 42 patients had had filtering surgery, 37 of whom had had a trabeculectomy to reduce uncontrolled intraocular pressure. Twenty-four of these trabeculectomy patients required a second surgery, and 8 required a third surgery. The results are presented using a survival analysis. The success rates at one year of follow-up for the first, second, and third trabeculectomies were 64%, 79%, and 63%, respectively. Patients subclassified as having Chandler's syndrome, essential iris atrophy, and Cogan-Reese syndrome responded with approximately the same success rates within the first two years following their first surgery. The success rates for repeated surgeries are comparable with those of initial surgery in patients with primary open angle glaucoma. On the basis of this study, further surgery is recommended despite initial failure in this group of difficult patients.