Trabeculectomy in a Black American glaucoma population.

Trabeculectomy was performed on 51 Black patients with uncontrolled glaucoma. The operation was successful in 80 per cent of cases followed-up for an average of 18 months. Success seemed to be independent of whether the superficial scleral flap was or was not sutured, although subconjunctival drainage, as indicated by the appearance of a bleb, seemed to be the predominant mechanism whereby the procedure functioned. The success rate in this series is the highest reported for glaucoma filtering procedures in Black glaucoma populations. Trabeculectomy may now be the operation of choice in uncontrolled glaucoma occurring in Black patients.