Role of sodium hyaluronate (Healonid) in triangular flap trabeculectomy

The role of sodium hyaluronate (Healonid) in trabeculectomy to prevent a shallow or flat anterior chamber and hypotonia in the immediate postoperative period is reported. Twenty-nine eyes of 27 patients were included in a randomised controlled study. Thirteen eyes had trabeculectomy alone, and 16 eyes had trabeculectomy performed with Healonid injected into the anterior chamber. The results showed that shallowing of the anterior chamber and hypotonia occurred in both groups until day 21 postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p greater than 0.05). Healonid has no significant value in maintaining anterior chamber depth and preventing hypotonia in the early postoperative period following trabeculectomy.