A review of the outcome of trabeculectomy in open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Background and objective: The outcome of trabeculectomy in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma and exfoliative glaucoma was reviewed.

Patients and methods: The study included 87 consecutive eyes of 87 patients with open-angle glaucoma. The outcome of trabeculectomy was correlated with a biomicroscopic appearance of the filtering bleb. Visual acuity, myopic shift in refraction, and lens opacity measurements were used as indicators for cataract progression. The effect of viscoelastics on complications and short-term outcome was studied in a randomized series of 107 eyes.

Results: In a series of 87 eyes, 61% had intraocular pressure (IOP) of less than 22 mm Hg without glaucoma medication 1 year after surgery. After 3 years, the corresponding success rate was 74% in a series of 85 eyes that had preoperative pupillary dilation of 4 mm or more.

Conclusion: The diffuse filtering bleb type was associated with the greatest decrease in IOP. Unfavorable flap-sized blebs and bleb failures were associated with preoperative treatment with miotics, anterior fistulation, and postoperative hypotony. These patients also tended to be younger. In a randomized, prospective study of 107 eyes, the use of sodium hyaluronate had no significant effect on the incidence of complications or on the short-term outcome. Age 61 years or older, exfoliative glaucoma, postoperative hypotony, and IOP peaks were identified as risk factors for accelerated cataract progression after trabeculectomy.