COMBINED TRABECULOTOMY-TRABECULECTOMY COMPARED WITH PRIMARY TRABECULECTOMY FOR CONGENITAL GLAUCOMA

This paper aimed to assess the outcome of primary trabeculectomy for c ongenital glaucoma and to compare it with a combined trabeculotomy-tra beculectomy procedure. The combined procedure was assessed using a pro spective trial for children with primary glaucoma under the age of 1 y ear (n = 16). The primary trabeculectomy was assessed retrospectively using similar patients treated at the same hospital from 1981 to 1990 (n = 44). After 24 months of follow up, the cumulative chance of succe ss of the primary trabeculectomy was 72% and this was compared with th e combined procedure of 93.5%. Primary trabeculectomy achieved good in traocular pressure control for up to 10 years. Follow up for the combi ned procedure ranged from 19 to 27 months. Complications included hyph aema (4/16 and 4/44) and cataract (0/16 and 3/44). Primary trabeculect omy for congenital glaucoma gives adequate long term success with few complications. The combined procedure may have a higher success rate a nd this requires further investigation.