Early choroidal detachment after trabeculectomy.

PURPOSE: To estimate the occurrence of choroidal detachment (CD) in 17 patients operated on with trabeculectomy.

METHODS: Ultrasonography was used to assess the occurrence of CD and pachymetry was used to estimate the depth of the anterior chamber (AC). Mean follow-up was 19 months.

RESULTS: Twelve (71%) patients suffered from marked hypotony (IOP < or =5 mm Hg) and 9 (53%) patients suffered from shallowing of the AC some period early after operation. CD was diagnosed in 10 (59%) patients. Ophthalmoscopy was not sufficient to diagnose CD in 3 (18%) patients. None of the eyes without CD showed more than 10% reduction of the AC. Four of these eyes were markedly hypotonic. On the other hand, all markedly hypotonic eyes with more than 10% reduction of the AC developed CD.

CONCLUSION: No postoperative IOP level alone could separate patients at risk for CD development from patients without any such risk. However, concomitant marked hypotony and more than 10% reduction of the AC were found in 2/3 of the CD eyes.