The effect of trabeculectomy and deep sclerectomy on the choroidal thickness: a comparative study

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) following trabeculectomy and nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS) in cases with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).Patients and methods This is a prospective interventional comparative randomized study that was carried out on 42 eyes of 32 patients with chronic POAG who were divided into two groups: group A included 22 eyes that underwent trabeculectomy, and group B included 20 eyes that underwent NPDS. SFCT was measured preoperatively and was repeated on the third day and at 1 month postoperatively using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.Results In group A, there was a statistically significant increase in the SFCT on the third postoperative day and after 1 month, with a mean value of 42.86±38.08 and 28.5±27.91 μm, respectively, when compared with the preoperative SFCT (P<0.05). In group B, the increase in SFCT was statistically significant on the third postoperative day, with a mean value of 38.45±24.33 μm when compared with the preoperative SFCT (P=0.0001). However, after 1 month, the increase in SFCT became nonsignificant, with a mean value of 13.25±6.55 μm when compared with the preoperative SFCT (P=0.19). There was a positive correlation between the amplitude of intraocular pressure reduction and the change in the SFCT in both groups.Conclusion Both trabeculectomy and NPDS caused a significant increase in SFCT in the early postoperative period, which might be related to postoperative hypotony maculopathy. SFCT went back near to normal values after NPDS earlier than after trabeculectomy in cases with POAG.