Background:

To evaluate the long-term results of viscogoniotomy and goniotomy, and to compare the success rates and complications of these two techniques.

Materials-Methods:

Patients who had undergone surgery for primary congenital glaucoma were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 38 eyes of 21 patients who underwent classical goniotomy and group 2 consisted of 44 eyes of 25 patients who underwent viscogoni-otomy. Pre-and postoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs), mean antiglaucoma medication, me-an corneal diameter, success rates, intra-and postoperative complications were compared betwe-en two groups.

Results:

Mean preoperative IOP was 28.9±3.6 mmHg in group 1 and 29.3±2.8 mmHg in group 2. At the last visit, it was 17.3±3.1 mmHg and 16.2±2.1 mmHg, respectively (P<.001). The mean number of antiglaucoma medications used after surgery was significantly lower in both groups (for each, P<.001). The success rates at the last visit of group 1 and group 2 were 68.4% and 88.6%, respectively, and there was statistically significant difference between two groups (P<.05). The most common early postoperative complication was hyphema in group 1 and transient IOP elevation in group 2.

Conclusion:

Use of viscoelastic materials during goniotomy surgery increase the success rate and decrease complications rate by preventing hyphema and formation of flat anterior chamber.

Keywords: Viscogoniotomy, classical goniotomy, success rates, complications