amniotic membrane transplantation in trabeculectomy

purpose: to evaluate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation in trabeculectomy. methods: the study was conducted on 25 eyes of 25 patients with advanced and medically uncontrolled glaucoma. all patients underwent trabeculectomy with a fornix based conjunctival flap, amniotic membrane was then placed under the scleral flap and fixed using 10-0 nylon suture. amniotic membrane was retrieved from healthy pregnant women during elective cesarian section. results: preoperative intraocular pressure was 33.5±5.0 mmhg (26-50 mmhg) with full medication, which decreased to 12.4±1.8 mmhg (9-15 mmhg) post-operatively (p= 0.0001). intraocular pressure was less than 21 mmhg after surgery in all eyes, with (8%) or without (92%) use of antiglaucoma medications after six months. conclusion: the use of amniotic membrane in trabeculectomy can increase the chance of success in terms of maintenance of a functional bleb and prevention of failure. this method may be superior to antimetabolites due to lack of complications.