THE TRABECULUM AS A DRAIN IN APHAKIC GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma of the aphakic patient is often difficult to treat. The autho rs present a new surgical technique which uses a portion of the trabec ulum as a drain placed in the anterior chamber. Thirty eyes (19 aphaki c and 11 pseudophakic) in 28 patients presenting refractory glaucoma w ere operated on by the same surgeon. Sixteen eyes had already undergon e glaucoma surgery, 17 presented vitreous in the anterior chamber. The average postoperative follow-up was 18 months. Eighteen eyes (60%) ne eded no further treatment, 6 eyes (20%) were stabilized with a local t reatment, 6 eyes (20%) remained hypertonic. This new surgical techniqu e, which uses a portion of the trabeculum as a drain, allows for long- lasting filtration in the aphakic or pseudophakic patient with refract ory glaucoma.