The modern version of trabeculectomy is associated with a very high success rate. As time progresses after surgery, failure of filtration, however, is common, as are problems with filtering blebs such as leaks and dysesthesia. Needle revision of filtering blebs is a useful adjunct to failed, failing, leaking, or dysesthetic trabeculectomy filters and can be performed in a variety of settings and techniques with fairly good results. Although varied techniques have been reported, there is no definitive "best" surgical approach. Needle revision should be considered before more aggressive surgical intervention, and in some cases before additional medical therapy. Owing to the paucity of rigorously conducted clinical studies, this review focuses on clinical experience with bleb needle revision.

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Purpose To determine the efficacy and safety of diode transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCPC) after tube shunt failure. Patients and Methods The patient population consisted of 32 eyes of 31 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma. Each eye had a previously implanted aqueous tube shunt and was currently on maximally tolerated medication. Each eye also underwent TSCPC treatment using the Iridex (Mountain View, CA) diode laser with a maximum of 360 degrees of treatment. All 31 charts were reviewed for data pertaining to demographics, treatment, ocular history, and follow-up clinical examinations. Safety was evaluated by complication data. Efficacy was evaluated in terms of TSCPC treatment parameters (number of laser applications, laser power, application duration, and degrees of ciliary body treated), intraocular pressure (IOP), number of hypotensive medications, and any further treatment required. Results With a mean (SD) follow-up of 17.1 (16.3) (median = 11.7) months from the last treatment, the mean IOP decreased from 28.6 (10.2) mmHg to 16.8 (7.5) mmHg (35% reduction) at 3 months (n = 30, p < 0.0001) and to 14.7 (7.9) mmHg (43% reduction) at 1 year (n = 13, p < 0.0001). Complications included hypotony (n = 4), hyphema (n = 2), failed corneal transplant (n = 1), and loss of light perception (n = 5). Conclusions TSCPC has a significant ocular hypotensive effect on glaucoma refractory to both tube shunt and medical therapy. The safety of this intervention remains unclear in this high risk patient population and warrants further study.

Early results showed that BWP is safe, easy, and minimally invasive technique for the rapid relief of dysesthesia symptoms from dysmorphic filtering blebs. A larger sample size with longer follow-up is necessary to confirm the clinical utility.