[Differential diagnosis of postoperative glaucoma following iridectomy and filtering procedures (author's transl)]

The various causes of elevated intraocular pressure following glaucoma surgery are described. One has to differentiate between failures after peripheral iridectomy (Table 1) and those following filtering interventions. The clinical picture of a postoperative narrow-angle glaucoma must be analyzed carefully; it may be due to pupillary block, plateau-iris syndrome or even to a ciliary block (malignant glaucoma). The failure of filtering procedures may be due to mechanisms blocking the trephination opening, cicatrization of the conjunctiva or a ciliary block. The diagnosis criteria of the different conditions and the respective therapeutic measures are outlined.