TRABECULO-INDENTATION - A NEW SURGICAL-TR EATMENT OF GLAUCOMA IN THE APHAKIC EYE

Introduction Glaucoma of the aphakic patient is often difficult to tre at. Classical surgical management is limited by poor quality conjuncti va and by the presence of the vitreous gel opposite the fistula. We pr esent a new surgical technique which uses a portion of the trabeculum as a drain placed in the anterior chamber. Material and methods Thirty eyes (19 aphakic and 11 pseudophakic) in 28 patients presenting refra ctory glaucoma were operated on by the same surgeon. Sixteen eyes had already undergone glaucoma surgery, 17 presented vitreous in the anter ior chamber. Average post-operative follow-up was 18 months. Results E ighteen eyes (60 %) needed no further treatment, 6 eyes (20 %) were st abilized With a local treatment, 6 eyes (20 %) remained hypertonic. Co nclusion This new surgical technique, which uses a portion of the trab eculum as a drain, allows for long lasting filtration in the aphakic o r pseudophakic patient with refractory glaucoma.