Releasable "U" suture for trabeculectomy surgery

Overfiltration after glaucoma surgery can lead to significant complications. Tight suturing of the trabeculectomy flap reduces this problem but can lead to higher pressure and poor drainage of aqueous. Releasable sutures often leave irritating exposed suture ends. We describe a simple two-arm releasable suture technique that leaves no exposed suture ends until one arm of the suture is removed. Good control of postoperative pressure with few complications was achieved in 28 cases using this technique, which allows manipulation at the slit lamp of the trabeculectomy flap, obviating laser lysis of the sutures.