330 TRABECULECTOMIES A LONG TIME STUDY (3–5½ YEARS)

281 eyes out of 330 were followed during 3 to 5½ years after trabeculectomy. 32 eyes were drop‐outs due to death and 17 eyes due to inability to participate in the examination program. The mean age at time of surgery was 66 years. A mean pre‐operative IOP of 31 mmHg dropped to a mean post‐operative level of 18 mmHg. In 57% a single trabeculectomy was considered enough to control the glaucoma. Post‐operative medical treatment was considered necessary in 35%. In 87% the pre‐operative progress of the field defect was arrested. A reoperation was performed in 8%. The early complications were very few, but in 25% a slowly developing cataract was observed. A cataract extraction was performed in 29 eyes post trabeculectomiam with a favourable visual outcome. This study confirms the opinion that trabeculectomy is an atraumatic and efficient surgical procedure and a necessary therapeutic measure when the tolerable combination of antiglaucoma drugs proves insufficient to control the glaucoma.