title: Fornix- vs. limbus-based flaps in combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy.
abstract: We studied prospectively the results of limbus-versus fornix-based flaps in patients undergoing combined trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification. We found no significant difference at six months postoperatively in the level of intraocular pressure between the limbus-(16.1 +/- 4.1 mm Hg) and fornix- (14.0 +/- 3.4 mm Hg, p = 0.161) based groups, or in the number of glaucoma medications (p = 0.0750). The highest intraocular pressure recorded within the first postoperative month was similar between groups (18.4 +/- 6.9 mm Hg for limbus and 18.5 +/- 5.5 mm Hg for fornix, p > 0.900). Postoperative bleb height, extent, and vascularity, as well as chamber depth were statistically similar between groups (p > 0.05). Postoperative complications were similar between groups. This study indicates that both fornix- and limbus-based flaps may be used safely and effectively when performing a trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Crinkley
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014130:Trabeculectomy