Trabecular Surgery

Abstract

Thirty-nine trabeculectomies were done in adult phakic eyes with open-angle glaucoma or chronic narrow-angle glaucoma; 74% were successful. Increasing age, race (white), no history of previous filtering surgery, and the presence of a bleb were associated with success. The unique advantages to this procedure are the reduction in the incidence of flat chamber postoperatively and the probable lower incidence of cataract formation. Trabeculotomies were done in 16 adult primary glaucomas and success was achieved in only 44%. Sixteen patients with aphakic eyes had trabeculectomies done. In only one of ten eyes with secondary glaucoma was success achieved, while in three of six eyes with open-angle glaucoma in aphakic eyes trabeculectomy was successful. Success was achieved in 71% of 14 cases of congenital and juvenile glaucoma with trabeculotomy or combination trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy. © 1974, American Medical Association. All rights reserved.