title: A fully adjustable suture for trabeculectomy.
abstract: Most approaches to improve the control of intraocular pressure (IOP) in the early postoperative period following trabeculectomy involve irreversible alterations of the flap sutures, which carry subsequent risk of overfiltration. A new technique using a fully adjustable suture that can be incrementally loosened or tightened is described. Eighteen eyes underwent trabeculectomy using a fully adjustable suture. Suture adjustments were made in the early postoperative period based on IOP, bleb appearance, and the results of digital massage. Sixteen of the 18 eyes were able to maintain the target IOP level without additional drops or laser treatment. The use of a fully adjustable suturing technique is safe and allows excellent control of IOP in the early postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic of Bellevue, Bellevue, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*