Aqueous misdirection syndrome: clinical outcomes and risk factors for treatment failure

To evaluate the outcomes of postoperative aqueous misdirection and factors predicting failure of interventions.

This retrospective study included 49 eyes from 47 patients with aqueous misdirection following glaucoma or cataract surgery. Resolution of aqueous misdirection (AM) was deepening of the central anterior chamber (AC) and intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate risk factors for failure of various treatments.

10/49 eyes (20%) resolved with conservative management, and 39/49 eyes (80%) needed multiple intervention, of which 95% (37/39) eyes achieved resolution of aqueous misdirection. Pseudophakia predicted the need for multiple interventions with a hazard ratio of 2.391 (1.158–4.935), p = 0.02). Among the risk factors assessed for resolution of AM, longer axial length (HR: 0.61 (0.414–0.891), p < 0.01) and eyes with prior glaucoma surgery predicted resolution (HR: 0.142 (0.027–0.741), p < 0.01) and delayed presentation predicted failure (HR: 1.002 (1.0002–1.0031), p < 0.02).

Pseudophakic eyes were more refractory and predicted the need for multiple interventions. Eyes with prior glaucoma surgery and those with longer axial length had achieved resolution faster, and delayed presentation was a risk factor for failure to resolve.