Glaucoma following retinal detachment operations

After retinal detachment operations 1-5% of the patients develop glaucoma. If this occurs directly after the operation it is the result of mechanical narrowing of the chamber angle. This can be the result of indentation due to an exoplant or encircling band causing forward displacement of the lens/iris diaphragm. Other causes are torsion of the ciliary body or a ciliary block due to serous detachment of the choroid caused by venous compression or diathermy. Ischaemia of the anterior segment sometimes leads to glaucoma in the long run; this is then the result of rubeosis iridis. Conducive factors are detachment of the recti muscles, arterial and venous compression by the exoplant or encircling band and the use of diathermy. When performing such operations it is advisable to take these risks into account and to keep a check on the intraocular pressure after the operation. A patient is described who, as the result of ischaemia, eventually developed ribeosis iridis with neovascular glaucoma, leading to loss of the eye.