Indocyanine green anterior segment angiography for studying conjunctival vascular changes after trabeculectomy.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of indocyanine green (ICG) for angiography of the anterior segment to characterize conjunctival and episcleral vasculature changes after trabeculectomy.

METHODS

This was a prospective evaluation of anterior segment ICG angiography in 10 eyes of 10 patients undergoing trabeculectomy for the first time. Trabeculectomy was performed with intraoperative sponge application of 5-fluorouracil (5 cases) or mitomycin C (5 cases). Anterior segment ICG angiography was performed prior to surgery, then at 2 weeks and 2 months after surgery.

RESULTS

With ICG, the anterior segment vessels were well delineated, including deep episcleral veins, which have not been clearly shown in previous angiographic techniques. Late phases of the angiogram could also be studied. The vascular alterations after trabeculectomy noted included oss of vascularity over the bleb area and vascular anastomoses along the perimeter of the avascular bleb.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiography using ICG has potential as an investigative tool to study the conjunctival and episcleral vasculature changes after trabeculectomy.