title: Tight versus loose scleral flap closure in trabeculectomy surgery.
abstract: Thirty-two consecutive trabeculectomy patients were randomized to receive a tight scleral flap closure (15 eyes) with postoperative laser suture lysis, or a loose scleral flap closure (18 eyes) to determine differences in the surgical results. Three months postoperatively no statistical difference in intraocular pressure (loose closure 15.1 +/- 3.3 mm Hg, tight closure 15.0 +/- 3.6 mm Hg, p > 0.05) or number of glaucoma medicines (loose closure 1.6, tight closure 1.3, p > 0.05) existed between treatment groups. In the early postoperative period, no statistical difference between groups was observed in the anterior chamber depth, visual acuity or intraocular pressure (p > 0.05). Laser suture lysis was performed without complication in nine patients with a statistically significant reduction in intraocular pressure (p < 0.01). This study suggests, by the technique used, that no obvious benefit exists in using a tight versus a loose scleral flap closure when performing a trabeculectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Bluestein
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*