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Study: 'mini-trabeculectomy' generally safe
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Performing a mini-trabeculectomy on eyes with medically uncontrolled glaucoma may offer clinical and technical advantages over the standard trabeculectomy, according to Avinoam Ophir, MD, in the current issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Mini-trabeculectomy consists of a 3-mm fornix-based conjunctival flap, sclerostomy at 1 mm from the limbus and a sclerocorneal tunnel without radial incisions.
In a prospective, institutional study, 37 eyes of patients ranging in age from 54 to 87 completed a 12-month follow up after having the mini-trabeculectomy. Of those, 1 eye underwent cataract extraction, which was evaluated for surgical complications only.
Mean preoperative intraocular pressure ranged from 19 mm Hg to 54 mm Hg. After postop mean follow up of between 12 and 43 months, intraocular pressure was at or below the planned target in 35 eyes and ranged from 11 mm Hg to 21 mm Hg.
Postop complications in the 37 eyes included early postop aqueous leakage with moderately shallow or deep anterior chamber in 2 eyes, and rapid cataract progression in 1 eye. Dr. Ophir recommends a controlled study to confirm his observations.
To contact Dr. Ophir, send an e-mail to ophthalmology@hillel-yaffe.health.gov.il.