Beta radiation as an adjunct to low-risk trabeculectomy

Purpose: To assess a single dose of intraoperative beta radiation used to e nhance the success rate of trabeculectomy in a population of low-risk glauc oma patients in whom antimetabolites might not be indicated. Methods: A prospective randomized trial of 65 eyes was designed, with 31 ey es receiving 750 rads of intraoperative beta radiation (group 1), and 34 ey es receiving no supplementation (group 2). Results: Mean follow-up time was 24 months. Mean postoperative intraocular pressure was 12.2 mmHg in group 1, and 13.7 mmHg in group 2 (P = 0.16). Mea n decrease in intraocular pressure was 10.3 mmHg in group 1, and 9.3 mmHg i n group 2 (P = 0.49). The two groups were not significantly different in te rms of surgical complications. Conclusion: For this population of low-risk patients, there was no signific ant difference in outcome after applications of a single intraoperative dos e of beta radiation.