Change In refractive status following trabeculectomy using conventional interrupted sutures versus releasable sutures

Purpose: Trabeculectomy with or without various modifications forms the surgical mainstay of glaucoma treatment.The impact of the procedure on the visual prognosis on the glaucoma patient must be carefully evaluated. Our purpose is to study the stabilization and alterations in the refractive status following trabeculectomy using conventional interrupted sutures and releasable sutures. Methods: This was a prospective comparative study. A total of 40 eyes of 37 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A with 20 eyes undergoing trabculectomy with conventional sutures and Group B with 20 eyes undergoing trabeculectomy with releasable sutures. The visual acuity, simulated keratometry and astigmatism was measured on day1, day 7, day 30 and day 90. Results: The change in the mean visual acuity in group A at day 90 was -0.0140 whereas in group b it was -0.0350. The difference was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.603). The astigmatism on day 90 in group a was found to be 1.28=/- 0.69 whereas in group b was found to be 1.52+/-1.49. The difference was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.511). Conclusion: Trabeculectomy using releasable sutures has all its advantages of minimizing shallow anterior chamber and hypotony in the early postop period as well as ensuring a good long term bleb function,along with no statistically significant difference in postoperative asigmatism as compared to trabeculectomy with conventional sutures.