Background: Malignant glaucoma (ciliary block glaucoma; aqueous misdirection glaucoma) is an incompletely understood, rare and serious complication of intraocular surgery.
Methods: A woman with pseudophakic malignant glaucoma underwent successful neodymium: YAG (Nd:YAG) laser photodisruption of the anterior hyaloid face with resolution of the glaucoma. High-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy was used to image the anterior segment and anterior chamber angle before and after laser surgery.
Results: Ultrasound biomicroscopy provided cross-sectional images of the iris, posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL), and ciliary body and their relative positions before and after resolution of the malignant glaucoma. Anterior rotation of the ciliary body and anterior chamber shallowing normalized after rupture of the anterior hyaloid face.
Conclusion: High-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy provided images consistent with accepted concepts of the pathophysiology of this disease and offers great promise for the future elucidation of the anatomic mechanisms underlying various forms of glaucoma.