[Safety and efficacy of outpatient glaucoma surgery]

To assess the outcome of filtration surgery and to evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications in outpatient glaucoma surgery cases.

This retrospective study comprised 134 patients with glaucoma who underwent trabeculectomy either as out-patient (n= 54) or as in-patient (n= 80). The authors compared demographic data, preoperative glaucoma medications, surgical procedures, amount of filtration achieved, and postoperative complications between both groups.

The two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender distribution, or degree and duration of glaucoma and number of ocular hypotensive medications. The overall intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction was similar in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in mean IOP three months following surgery (p=0.16), the incidence of hyphaema (p=0.36), shallow anterior chamber (p=0.38), or leaking bleb (p=0.22) between the two groups. The average postoperative follow-up and the number of control visits were similar in both groups.

The low rate of complications and the final results confirm the safety and security of ambulatory surgery for glaucoma.