Trabeculectomy has been the 'Gold Standard' of glaucoma surgery for advanced cases for fifty years.
The Surgical Process
The surgeon creates a tiny trapdoor (flap) in the sclera (white of the eye), through which fluid flows from the anterior chamber of the eye to under the conjunctiva. The resulting filtering bleb collects the fluid. The surgeon uses very fine sutures and sometimes special medications (like Mitomycin-C) to prevent scarring that could block the delicate fluid flow.
Post-Operative Care
The success of a trabeculectomy depends heavily on the management and healing of the scar tissue in the post-operative period. The patient will require several follow-up visits during which the doctor may loosen or cut sutures with a laser in the clinic to precisely adjust the drainage rate. The surgery can maintain a low, healthy pressure for many years without the need for drops.