Removable-suture closure of the lamellar scleral flap in trabeculectomy.

Removable-suture closure of the lamellar scleral flap was attempted in trabeculectomy, with the goal of increasing the degree of filtration during the immediate postoperative period by removing the suture so as to undo the closure whenever the need arose. The incorporation of the removable-suture closure of the lamellar scleral flap resulted in an additional mechanism of control over the degree of filtration after trabeculectomy. Furthermore, the availability of such a mechanism allowed the surgeon to close the lamellar scleral flap relatively tightly; this resulted in a decreased incidence of postoperative complications.