[Practical value of preventive posterior sclerectomy in trabeculectomy]

The results of prophylactic posterior sclerectomy, carried out to prevent ciliochoroid detachment in antiglaucoma fistulization surgery (trabeculectomy in various modifications) are analyzed. A total of 293 patients (303 eyes) were under study. In 51.8 percent of cases (157 eyes) trabeculectomy was combined with prophylactic sclerectomy, carried out both in the upper (121 eyes) and lower (36 eyes) segments of the eye. The results evidence that prophylactic posterior sclerectomy promoted a 2.3 times reduction (from 28.1 to 12.1 percent) in the incidence of ciliochoroid detachments; the site of this operation (upper of lower segment of the eye) was of no essential importance. The authors recommend prophylactic posterior sclerectomy as an effective method for prevention of ciliochoroid detachment.