Intraocular pressure changes after levator aponeurosis advancement for aponeurotic ptosis in eyes with and without a filtering bleb.

PURPOSE: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after levator aponeurosis advancement (LAA) for acquired aponeurotic ptosis and compare eyes with and without glaucoma-filtering blebs.

METHODS

This retrospective study included consecutive patients undergoing LAA at the University of Tokyo Hospital between May 2016 and November 2017. IOP was measured via Goldmann applanation tonometry preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Eyes were classified by the presence of filtering blebs. Patients with ocular abnormalities other than glaucoma were excluded. A linear mixed-effects model with a random intercept per patient assessed the effects of time, bleb status, and interaction.

RESULTS

Sixteen (32%) of 50 eyes from 48 patients had filtering blebs. Baseline IOP did not differ significantly between groups. Adjusted IOP changes at 1 and 3 months were not significantly different between eyes with and without filtering blebs. Within-group analysis showed a significant IOP reduction at 3 months in non-bleb eyes (p = 0.020), with no significant change at 1 month (p = 0.051). Bleb eyes showed no significant change at 1 month (p = 0.170) or 3 months (p = 0.790).

CONCLUSIONS

LAA for aponeurotic ptosis did not cause early postoperative IOP increases in eyes with filtering blebs. Postoperative IOP changes were similar between groups.