[Trabeculotomy in congenital glaucoma: comparison to goniotomy]

To compare the efficacy of trabeculotomy (TO) and that of goniotomy (GO) as a primary surgical procedure in congenital glaucoma.

We retrospectively analyzed 39 eyes of 22 children with congenital glaucoma who underwent TO with or without a small trabeculectomy. The results were compared to data on 34 eyes of 21 children who underwent GO for congenital glaucoma.

The mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 28.2 +/- 6.7 mmHg in TO eyes and 31.0 +/- 7.9 mmHg in GO eyes. Mean IOP at the end of follow-up was 17.7 +/- 6.0 mmHg in TO eyes and 18.9 +/- 9.1 mmHg in GO eyes. In 31 of 39 TO eyes (79.5%) and in 26 of 34 (76.5%) GO eyes the IOP was 21 mmHg or lower at the end of follow-up. Combining the criteria of an IOP greater than 21 and an IOP drop of at least 20%, the success rate was 71.8% (28/39) in TO eyes and 70.6% (24/34) in GO eyes.

In this study the value of TO in controlling IOP was comparable to that of GO.