Combined trabeculotomy and trabeculectomy as an initial procedure in uncomplicated congenital glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE To review the results of combined trabeculotomy and trabeculectomy as a primary procedure in congenital glaucoma. METHODS A retrospective review of 100 consecutive eyes in 60 children undergoing surgery from December 30, 1991, to April 17, 1996. Features at initial examination, ie, corneal size and clarity, presence or absence of anterior segment structural abnormalities, and intraocular pressure (IOP), were noted. Data pertaining to perioperative use of mitomycin and the occurrence of complications were collected. After surgery, all patients had IOP, corneal integrity, and any postoperative complication recorded under chloral hydrate sedation. RESULTS Mean preoperative IOP was 31 mm Hg. Average horizontal corneal diameter was 12.60 mm. Ninety-five eyes had corneal opacification. Twenty-nine eyes had additional anterior segment anomalies, with ectropion uveae (n = 11), Peters anomaly (n = 9), and partial aniridia (n = 7) being the most common. Mitomycin (0.2 or 0.4 mg/mL) was used in 87 eyes. Eleven eyes sustained hyphemas during or just after surgery. Total average follow-up was 304 days. Eyes in which no coexistent anterior segment anomalies were present had a 78% (49 eyes) operative success (IOP, <21 mm Hg); however, in eyes with associated anterior segment anomalies, the success rate was much lower (45% [18 eyes]). The difference in success rates between both groups was statistically significant (P = .03, chi2 test). CONCLUSIONS Primary combined trabeculotomy and trabeculectomy was a useful initial procedure in uncomplicated congenital glaucoma. This was particularly true where corneal opacification, as in nearly all our eyes, precluded goniotomy, however, where other stigmata of anterior segment dysgenesis coexisted, results were significantly poorer.