The results of trabeculectomy surgery in african-american versus white glaucoma patients.

SUMMARY: We evaluated differences in the results of trabeculectomy surgery in primary open-angle glaucoma in 24 consecutive white glaucoma patients matched to 24 African-American glaucoma patients acting as case controls. One year after surgery we found no statistical difference (p = 0.09, paired t test) in the average intraocular pressure between white (13.4 $pM 3.5 mm Hg) and African-American patients (15.8 $pM 5.0 mm Hg). However, African-American patients had a significantly greater distribution of intraocular pressures (p = 0.04, F distribution test), were taking more glaucoma medicines (1.6 compared with 1.0 for white patients; p = 0.03, Wilcoxon sign rank test), and showed less bleb formation (p = 0.04, Wilcoxon sign rank test). This study suggests that after trabeculectomy, on average, the intraocular pressure in both African-American and white patients may be controlled. However, among different individuals intraocular pressure control may be more inconsistent, require more medicines, and be associated with less bleb formation in African-American than in white patients.