SURGERY FOR NORMAL-TENSION GLAUCOMA

The long term follow up of surgery in normal tension glaucoma is prese nted. One eye of 18 patients with bilateral progressive disease underw ent fistulising surgery. Over follow up periods ranging from 2 to 7 ye ars (50% greater than or equal to 5 years) the operated eye showed on average a 30% reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP). This was associ ated with a marked difference in the rate and number of retinal locati ons showing a progressive decline in retinal function, suggesting some protective function for lowering IOP in patients with normal tension glaucoma.