Visual Prognosis in Advanced Glaucoma

Many surgeons have noted that when the visual field is markedly constricted, immediate and permanent loss of central vision may follow otherwise successful glaucoma surgery. The present study was undertaken to assess the relative risk of surgical therapy in the loss of central vision in patients with advanced glaucoma. We reviewed the records of 44 eyes (including 8 macular split eyes) of 36 patients who had undergone trabeculectomy for intraocular pressure (IOP) control. The patients were followed for a minimum of 4 months with an average follow-up of 4.1 years.