[Primary trabeculectomy for early-onset congenital glaucomas]

Analysis of the results of primary trabeculectomy in the treatment of congenital glaucoma.

Retrospective study of a series of 62 patients with primary trabeculectomy for congenital glaucoma, with a mean follow-up period of 2.22+/-2.86 years.

The last controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) was higher for the patients in the age group 0-1 year (16.9+/-8) as compared with the patients older than 1 year (14.9+/-7). An intraocular pressure < or = 20 mmHg without additional medication has been found in 58.3% of the cases in the 0-1 year age group, versus 65.8% in the group of patients older than 1 year. The number of reoperations was higher in the 0-1 year age group (14), as compared with the group of patients older than 1 year (8). The rate of qualified therapeutic success (IOP < or = 20 mmHg) was 79.1% in the 0-1 year age group, versus 85.5% in the group of patients older than 1 year.

Primary trabeculectomy is effective in the treatment of congenital glaucoma. The poorer results in the group of patients under 1 year of age is correlated with disease severity. The rate of favorable results is increased by reoperation, the majority of surgical failures belonging to the group of patients who needed reoperations.