Post-Trabeculectomy Refractory Shallow Anterior Chamber: A Case Highlighting Overlooked Patient Behavior

A shallow anterior chamber (AC) after glaucoma filtration surgery is a common early postoperative complication that can be vision-threatening. So, early recognition of the causative factors and prompt management are necessary to avoid such devastating complications after surgery. This case report presents a 33-year-old patient with primary angle closure glaucoma who initially presented with an acute angle closure crisis in both eyes. Despite having maximum tolerated anti-glaucoma medications, his target IOP was not achieved, and he later underwent augmented trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in his right eye. However, frequent swallowing of the AC was noticed in the early postoperative days. Revision surgeries with AC reformation were done after initially dealing with the unrecognized patient factor and maintaining good vision with well-controlled intraocular pressure and a well-formed AC. After incisional glaucoma surgeries, it is essential to warn patients about external factors contributing to postoperative complications, like shallow AC.