Trabeculectomy in Aphakic Eyes

One hundred twenty-seven trabeculectomies performed on aphakic eyes at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (BPEI) between 1972 and 1982 were reviewed. Forty-five cases were excluded from data analysis: 28 in eyes with confounding conditions, such as neovascular glaucoma; ten with followup of less than six months; and seven that were the second or third trabeculectomy performed at the BPEI in six eyes. Of the remaining 82 trabeculectomies in 82 eyes: 32 (39%) were categorized as successes (eyes that achieved an intraocular pressure of ≤21 mmHg with medication or ≤25 mmHg without medication); eight (10%) were categorized as qualified failures (eyes that had an intraocular pressure of >21 mmHg despite medication or >25 mmHg without medication); and 42 (51%) were categorized as complete failures (eyes that underwent further glaucoma surgery, had further glaucoma surgery recommended, or lost light perception). In the 20 eyes of the patients younger than 50 years of age, only one (5%) was categorized as a success; while in the 62 eyes of the patients 50 years of age or older, 31 (50%) were categorized as successes.