Mini-trabeculectomy without radial incisions

PURPOSE: To describe a new modification of Cairns trabeculectomy. METHODS: Surgical adjustment includes a small, 3-mm, fornix-based conjunctival flap, a circumferential scleral incision at a distance of only 1 mm from the corneoscleral limbus, and a sclerocorneal tunnel without scleral radial incisions. RESULT: Among the various clinical and technical advantages of the procedure is the possibility of performing more operations through the superior limbus rather than reverting to an inferior trabeculectomy or implantation of an aqueous shunt. CONCLUSION: The reduced surgical area and manipulations of the current procedure appear to offer advantages over the standard approach.