[Surgery in the treatment of primary advanced open-angle glaucoma]

A series of 25 cases of advanced open-angle primitive glaucoma (C/D higher than 0.8, visual field stages C, D, E according to Greve's classification), operated upon by extended and adapted trabeculectomy, surgery being the initial step in the treatment of this affection, was reviewed. After a 18.5-month follow up, the progression of glaucoma was arrested in 60% of the cases, and a regression of papilloperimetric alterations was found in 8% of the cases. There was a significant correlation between the obtained IOP level and glaucoma course (in the cases with a favourable course postoperative IOP was of 15.5 mmHg, while in those evolving unfavorably IOP was of 18 mmHg). Our experience suggests that antiglaucoma surgery may be recommended as an initial treatment in those patients in whom a short-term drug trial (topic administration of 3 drugs for few days) induces a lowering of IOP to less than 15.5 mmHg, and life expectancy is not short.