AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus for patients of intraocular pressure(IOP)after failed glaucoma filtration.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify 51 glaucoma patients with 61 eyes that had undergone trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus for patients of IOP after failed glaucoma filtration. The preoperative and postoperative IOP, visual acuity and number of IOP-lowering drugs, as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications were extracted. Surgical success rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS: The postoperative follow-up time ranged from 6-76(mean 30.15±14.10)mo. The preoperative IOP of 61 eyes was 35.98±10.01mmHg, the IOP after the surgery at 1wk, 1, 3, 6mo, 1a and the IOP of last follow-up visit were 9.62±4.90, 13.15±4.51, 16.05±7.37, 16.48±6.81, 16.68±6.42, 16.77±7.56 mmHg respectively, all of these were different compared to the preoperative IOP(P<0.001). The postoperative complete success rates at 6mo, 1 and 2a were 62%, 49% and 36%, respectively and the partial success rates were 93%, 85% and 81%, respectively. There were 34 eyes(56%)formed functional filtration blebs. There were 3.33±0.77 kinds of IOP-lowering eye drops used before surgery, and it was decreased to 1.41±1.44 kinds of eye drops(t=9.86, P<0.001)at 3mo after surgery. There was no severe complication observed such as filtering bleb infection and endophthalmitis.

CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus offers the opportunity for patients with uncontrolled IOP after failed glaucoma filtration, and it can still be used as a safe and effective treatment for patients, although it is relatively difficult to operate.