ABSTRACT
References 191
Ferrer (1) first described a small transconjunctival incision to salvage a failing glaucoma
surgery in 1941. He termed the procedure “conjunctival dialysis.” Pederson and Smith (2)
described the needling procedure as it is currently known and performed in 1985. Over the
last 20 years, multiple publications (1-15) have reported needling as part of the armamen-
tarium of postfiltering surgery interventions. Currently, its use is advocated not only to
incise encysted blebs, but also to raise flat ones. With its reported success rates, it is
reasonable to recommend that prior to re-operation in the cases of flattened or encysted
blebs, a needling procedure should be considered.
