[Postoperative flat anterior chamber. The therapeutic approach].

OBJECTIVE: The study of clinical entities followed by postoperative flat anterior chamber and their therapeutical possibilities. Retrospective study of all flat anterior chamber cases in a series of 315 patients operated for glaucoma. There were 16 flat anterior chamber cases with ocular hypotony, 3 cases with pupillary block and 9 cases with ciliary block. Stage I flat anterior chamber cases with ocular hypotony responded well to medical treatment. The most efficient surgical procedures were the application of additional sutures and excision of the over filtering bleb. The most frequent complications are: secondary cataract (75%), filtering failure (25%) and uveitis (18.75%). Flat anterior chamber cases with pupillary block resulted from obstruction and were managed with a new peripheral iridectomy. Flat anterior chamber cases with ciliary block had a severe evolution and didn't show any improvement under medical therapy. All cases were managed successfully by vitreous surgery (especially using pars plana aspiration). The incidence of postoperative flat anterior chamber can be reduced by accurate surgical procedure. Most of flat anterior chamber cases with ocular hypotony had a favorable evolution under medical treatment. Cases associated with intraocular hypertension needed surgical management.