A retrospective study of the effects of laser suture lysis on the long-term results of trabeculectomy.

We retrospectively examined the effects of laser suture lysis on the long-term results of initial trabeculectomies in 130 consecutive eyes that had an intraocular pressure greater than 21 mm Hg during the first 4 postoperative weeks. After the high intraocular pressure was noted, 46 eyes underwent laser suture lysis; the other 84 did not. The 2-year cumulative probability of success in the laser suture lysis group was .84 and, in the control group, .82 (P > .05). Intraocular pressures in the two groups 1 and 2 years after trabeculectomy were similar. Laser suture lysis had no discernible effect on the long-term success rate of trabeculectomy in these patients.