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Trabeculectomy with beta radiation: long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE
To evaluate the long-term outcome and complications of trabeculectomy with beta radiation.


DESIGN
Retrospective noncomparative case series.


PARTICIPANTS
Forty-three patients with confirmed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), who received trabeculectomy with adjunctive beta radiation at the Prince of Wales Hospital between June 1991 and November 1994.


METHODS
Patients fulfilling the preceding criteria were followed up longitudinally. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb morphology, and complications were evaluated.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Visual acuity, IOP, bleb morphology, complications.


RESULTS
Forty-three eyes of 43 consecutive Chinese patients were recruited and successfully followed up for a minimum of 7 years. The mean age +/- 1 standard deviation (SD) was 60.9 +/- 13.0 years. There were 29 males and 14 females. The mean baseline IOP +/- 1 SD was 28.3 +/- 5.8 mmHg. The mean postoperative IOP +/- 1 SD after the initial trabeculectomy was 11.9 +/- 4.3 mmHg, and the mean number of preoperative IOP-lowering eyedrops +/- 1 SD was reduced from 2.8 +/- 0.5 to 0.7 +/- 1.0 at 7 years follow-up. The qualified success rate at 7 years follow-up, defined as IOP <or=21 mmHg with and without medication(s), was 88.4%. The complete success rate at 7 years defined as IOP <or=21 mmHg without medication was 60.7%. Two eyes developed blebitis, and one of them progressed to corneal decompensation after the infection. One eye had hypotony, and one eye had a traumatic ruptured bleb. Twelve eyes (27.9%) developed significant cataract. No corneal ulceration or scleral necrosis was encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
From this noncomparative study, trabeculectomy with a single dose of 1000 rad beta radiation used as an adjunctive measure for POAG in Chinese eyes had achieved a qualified success rate of 88.4% at 7 years.