To compare the surgical outcomes between trabeculectomy with a collagen matrix (Ologen®) insertion and conventional trabeculectomy.

An ophthalmic examination, including tonometry and a slit lamp examination, was performed 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively in glaucoma patients who underwent a trabeculectomy using Ologen® (experimental group) or a conventional trabeculectomy (control group). Clinical features including success rate and complications were compared between the two groups.

In 21 eyes of the experimental group and 42 eyes of the control group, the success rates were 76% and 69%, respectively ( p = 0.554). Needling with subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil injection or laser suture lysis of the scleral flap was required in three eyes (14.3%) in the experimental group and 18 eyes (42.9%) in the control group ( p = 0.023). The types of complications differed, although the total number of complications did not differ between the two groups (23.8% vs. 19.0%, respectively; p = 0.745). The most common complication in the experimental group was an encapsulated bleb, which occurred in three eyes (14.3%), whereas an avascular bleb occurred in three eyes (7.1%) in the control group.

The success rate of trabeculectomy with Ologen® was comparable to that of conventional trabeculectomy. However, postoperative interventions were less commonly required after trabeculectomy with Ologen®, and the complications differed between the groups. When choosing the surgical method and examining the postoperative condition, these differences should be considered.