vol1 - Page 212
Page 212
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that pha_.acological treatment if the eye
continued to lose vision and [lOP] was
uncontroil_le . o . Then one would resort
to
Filtration surgery is one common form of surgical
intervention_ Dr. _epler described this procedure as follows:
The usual surgical procedures enlarge the
_i. mechanism which drains the fluid from the
eyes The rlsY_ Qf such procedures include a
significant chance that the opening will not
be made large enough ands therefore_ it will
not be effective in reducing iOP to the safe
ranges or that it will be too laz_/e ands
therefore_ will reduce XOP beneath the safe
range. The possibility of unsuccessful
surgery is increased in patients with
sharply fluctuating 16P_ because of the
inability to determine the extentA_whioh
the mechanism should be enlarged® _I
The failure rate of surgical interventions -- deEined
as a failure of the procedure to reduce lOP and discounting
potential adverse consequences -= remains extremely high. Keith
Green_ Ph. Do testified X[There is] probably a 50%_ 60% failure
rate in glaucoma surgery_ simply because the ihuman body tries to
heal itself. _460/
Xn recent years_ an additional surgical option has
emerged_ laser su_ery_ Opinions vary sharply with respect to
the effectiveness of this procedure. Keith Greens Ph_Do,
testifying on behalf of the government commented, "_n the hands
of the skilled utilizer of the lasers I think, the latest numbers
_/ Cross-examination of Keith Greene Ph.D._ Tr. 9_169o
_59/ Affidavit of Robert Randall_ Exhibit 2 B_ Affidavit of Dro
Robert Hepler _ 11; Cross-examination of Keith Green, Ph.D., Tr.
9-I01-I02_
_6Q/ Cross-examination of Keith Greene Ph®Do_ Tr. 9-i01o
- 139
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