Short-term outcomes of trabeculectomy surgery in primary open-angle glaucoma

Introduction: Trabeculectomy controls the intraocular pressure (IOP) and decreases the progress of open-angle glaucoma; the outcome of such procedure has not been ascertained in Libya. Objective: We report the short-term outcome of trabeculectomy in terms of IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Settings and Design: The medical records of the trabeculectomy patients previously diagnosed with POAG were reviewed retrospectively. Patients and Methods: Case characteristics were extracted including preoperative IOP and the IOP outcome 6 months postoperatively using Goldmann applanation tonometry. Data were presented as frequencies and mean ± standard deviation. Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was used to analyze the changes in the measurement of IOP after trabeculectomy. Results: Fifty-seven cases had trabeculectomy with a mean age of 51.6 ± 12.2 years. There was a statistically difference (P < 0.0001) in the IOP measurement pre and 6 months post trabeculectomy. 39 patients (68.4%) achieved an IOP of ≤21 mmHg 6 months after surgery without medications. IOP decreased from 33.2 ± 6.5 mmHg before surgery to 18.8 ± 5.8 mmHg after surgery. All the cases with preoperative IOP of 21–30 mmHg had a posttrabeculectomy IOP ≤ 21 mmHg (P < 0.0001). The rate of complications was low; seven eyes (12.3%) developed early postoperative complications that resolved within 2 weeks. Conclusions: This is the first report on trabeculectomy surgery in Libya. The results are encouraging with a low complication rate. This warrants further evaluationsof long term outcomes.