[Eyeball growth after successful glaucoma surgery in the 1st year of life--follow-up values for primary congenital glaucoma].

BACKGROUND

Echographic biometry of the ocular axial length is a helpful criterion in diagnosis and follow-up of primary congenital glaucoma. However, quantitative assessment of ocular growth following successful primary glaucoma surgery in the first year of life is hardly to find in literature.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In 36 eyes from 21 patients (mean age 4.4 +/- 2.4 months) with primary congenital glaucoma Ascan biometry was performed under general anesthesia before and 7.2 +/- 4.2 months following successful primary glaucoma surgery and retrospectively summarized.

RESULTS

Preoperative axial length was 21.7 +/- 2.5 mm, postoperative axial length was 22.4 +/- 1.6 mm. Ocular growth was significantly stronger in eyes with a preoperative axial length < 20 mm (p = 0.0012) and in children younger than 3 months at surgery (p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative axial length and age are basic factors for the interpretation of ocular growth following glaucoma surgery in primary congenital glaucoma. Temporary cessation of ocular growth is a frequent finding after successful pressure-reducing surgery in eyes with axial length > 22 mm and in children aged 3 months or older.