Long-Term Results of Combined Trabeculotomy Trabeculectomy in Primary Congenital Glaucoma

Abstract

PRÉCIS: Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) in Tunisian children seems to be characterized by a high prevalence of inherited and advanced forms of the disease. Primary combined trabeculotomy trabeculectomy (CTT) allowed satisfactory long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) control and reasonable visual outcome. PURPOSE: To report the long-term outcome of CTT as the initial glaucoma surgery in children with PCG. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of children who underwent primary CTT for PCG between January 2010 and December 2019. The main outcome measures were IOP reduction, corneal clarity, complications, refractive errors, and visual acuity (VA). Success was defined as IOP <16 mm Hg without (complete) or with (qualified) antiglaucoma medication. The WHO criteria of vision loss were used to categorize visual impairment (VI). RESULTS: Of 62 patients, 98 eyes were enrolled. At the last follow-up, the mean IOP was reduced from 22.7 ± 4.0 mm Hg to 9.7 ± 3.9 mm Hg ( P < 0.0001). The complete success rate was 91.6%, 88.4%, 84.7%, 71.6%, 59.7%, and 54.3%, at the first, second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth year, respectively. Follow-up averaged 42.1 ± 28.4 months. Preoperatively, 72 eyes (73.5%) had significant corneal edema versus 11 eyes (11.2%) at the end of the follow-up ( P < 0.0001). Endophthalmitis was encountered in one eye. Myopia was the most common refractive error (80.6%). Data on Snellen VA were available for 53.2% of the patients; 33.3% achieved a VA ≥6/12, 21.2% had mild VI, 9.1% had moderate VI, 21.2% had severe VI, and 15.2% were blind. The failure rate was statistically correlated to the early disease onset (<3 mo) and to preoperative corneal edema ( P = 0.022 and P = 0.037, respectively). CONCLUSION: Primary CTT seems to be a good procedure in a population with advanced PCG at presentation, problematic follow-up visits, and limited resources.