A new, safer method of applying antimetabolites during glaucoma filtering surgery.

Blebs resulting from glaucoma filtration surgery tend to result in lower intraocular pressure and to be associated with fewer complications when they are diffuse and spread over the globe rather than localized to the area over the scleral flap. One way to achieve this type of bleb morphology is by applying the antimetabolite to a larger area than the one usually used in the past, in which the antimetabolite was placed only over the area of the scleral flap. In this article, the authors present a safe and inexpensive technique, which consists of using sponges with long, colored tails. This allows applying antimetabolite as far under the Tenon's capsule as desired without the risk of losing the sponges in the sub-Tenon's space. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.