IOP is successfully reduced with both trabeculectomy and combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in children with glaucoma.

The retrospective, comparative study, led by Dr Peter A. Netland, Department of Ophthalmology (SDL), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, included 40 eyes of 33 glaucoma patients.

Trabeculectomy was performed on 17 eyes (Group 1) and 23 eyes underwent combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy (Group 2), with mitomycin C administered to all patients. Successful surgery was defined if IOP was 21 mmHg or less and greater than 5 mmHg without additional surgery.

No significant difference in mean IOP reduction was found between the groups during follow-up. There was a higher success rate after surgery in group 2, compared to group 1. There were five treatment failures in group 1 and two in group 2. The failures were caused increased IOP or hypotony and there were no complications observed.

Both procedures are equally effective in lowering average IOP in children with glaucoma, but combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy was linked to greater long-term successful outcomes.

More detailed information may be found at the Journal of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, click here