Purpose: To evaluate the results of deep sclerectomy with SkGel at 3 and 5 years.
Materials and methods: This retrospective trial comprised 200 eyes with open angle glaucoma having a 3-year follow-up, 97 having a 5-year follow-up. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and slit-lamp examination were recorded at baseline and at follow-up visits. Visual field (VF) testing was repeated every 6 months.
Results: Mean IOP decreased from 21.01+/-5.56 mm Hg before surgery to 13.13+/-2.24 mm Hg at 36 months and from 20.61+/-5.50 to 12.85+/-1.84 mm Hg at 60 months (P<0.0005). At 3 and 5 years, complete success rates (IOP<or=16 mm Hg without medications) were 67.50% and 64.95%, partial success rates were (IOP<or=16 mm Hg with medications) 21.50% and 24.74%, and failure rates were (IOP>16 mm Hg) 11% and 10.31%, respectively. VF testing revealed stable mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation values at 3 and 5 years (P>0.05). At 3 years, success rate was greater if goniopuncture was performed within 3 months after surgery (P=0.022). Complications of the surgery were not observed after goniopunctures.
Conclusions: Deep sclerectomy with SkGel provides stable control of IOP and VF.