[Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy without collagen implant for glaucoma, as single or combined surgery].

Deep sclerectomy (DS) can be used in glaucoma with increased intraocular pressure when medical treatment fails. It involves removing part of the ocular drainage apparatus. Resistance to intraocular fluid drainage is decreased, improving drainage and decreasing intraocular pressure. By avoiding anterior chamber penetration, DS diminishes frequency of the complications of filtering surgery. 24 eyes of 23 patients underwent DS for primary or secondary open angle glaucoma with elevated intraocular pressure not controlled medically. It included preparation of a 4.0 x 4.0 mm limbal-based external scleral flap, dissecting and removing most of an internal scleral flap (leaving it 1 mm smaller than the external flap), unroofing Schlemm's canal and removing fine endothelial tissue lining its inner walls. The external scleral flap was then repositioned and sutured. Collagen implants were not used. In some cases DS was combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 24.8 +/- 3.9 mmHg initially to 12.8 +/- 4.4 mmHg 6 months after operation (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in postoperative intraocular pressure between DS as a single procedure or as part of a combined operation. Complications were mild and of short duration. If long-term follow-up shows that lowered intraocular pressures are maintained, DS should be a surgical option in earlier stages of glaucoma.