Ab externo 240-degree trabeculotomy versus trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy in primary congenital glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE

This prospective study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of ab externo 240-degree trabeculotomy and trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy in managing primary congenital glaucoma (PCG).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 30 eyes of 30 patients aged less than 3 years who were diagnosed with PCG and was conducted in Menofia University Hospital between November 2018 and January 2020. The studied eyes were divided into two equal groups. Ab externo 240-degree trabeculotomy and combined trabeculotomy with trabeculectomy with MMC were performed for groups I and II, respectively. Post-operative measurements included intraocular pressure (IOP), optic disc changes, alteration in corneal clarity and transverse corneal diameter, as they are needed for antiglaucoma therapy. Post-operative complications were followed up for 1-year.

RESULTS

There was significant reduction in IOP in both groups during the follow-up period. The reduction was higher in group I, where mean preoperative IOP was 28.20 ± 1.74 mmHg. The IOP in the group II was 28.07 ± 3.51 mmHg. The mean IOP decreased to 13.93 ± 1.8 mmHg and 14.60 ± 1.24 mmHg in groups I and II, respectively, after 1 year (P < 0.001); however, the difference between the two groups was not significant. Regarding post-operative complications, post-operative hypotony was more common in group I. Other complications such as shallow anterior chamber, choroidal detachment and blebitis occurred more frequently in group II. However, post-operative hyphema was more common in group I. Corneal clarity improved significantly in both groups, but more so in group I, where an improvement was seen in 13 cases (86.6%), compared to 11 cases in group II (73.3%).

CONCLUSION

Ab externo 240° trabeculotomy and trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy are effective techniques in primary congenital glaucoma with more reduction in IOP in Ab Externo 240° trabeculotomy. Ab externo 240° trabeculotomy provided more better surgical outcome with limited complications, especially those related to bleb formation.