Further experience with trabeculectomy

Trabeculectomies performed on 33 eyes were compared to 28 standard filtering procedures done at the same institution during a 4 year period. The success rates in the two groups of patients whether white or black were statistically comparable, 92% in the trabeculectomy group and 77% in the standard filtering surgical group. Only cases of phakic open angle glaucoma, chronic angle closure and combined mechanism glaucoma were considered. Cases of secondary glaucoma, previous surgical failure and aphakic nonpupillary block glaucoma did uniformly poorly. When trabeculectomy was performed with "enhanced cyclodialysis" early results in a few cases were successful. The incidence of flat anterior chamber and cataracts with permanent reduction in visual acuity was significantly less in the trabeculectomy group than in the standard filtering procedure group. These results support previous studies which support trabeculectomy as successful as standard filtering procedures with the advantage of having fewer permanent serious complications.