Background: To investigate the long-term effect of serous choroidal detachment on the success of trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients. Methods: In this case-control study, 17 patients who underwent trabeculectomy and developed choroidal detachment, and completed at least 3 years of follow-up were included. The controls were matched based on age, sex, preoperative intraocular pressure, and glaucoma type, and lack of choroidal detachment. Surgical success was defined based on two definitions of 5 < IOP < 16 and 20% reduction from the baseline and no need for further glaucoma surgery and all the same but 5 < IOP < 22. Results: The mean estimated duration of survival ±SD was 2.73 ± 0.35 years (CI 95% 2.1, 3.4), which was significantly shorter than 3.98 ± 0.38 years (CI 95% 3.3, 4.7) in the control group. (LogRank = 5.03 p = 0.02). Cumulative probability of success was 76.5%, 52.9%, 29.4%, 17.6%, and 11.8% in year 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the case group, respectively. Corresponding values were 88.2%, 82.4%, 68.6%, 58.8%, and 47.1%. In the control group, respectively. At baseline, average IOP was 22.3 ± 2.7 and 23.8 ± 8.3 mmHg in the case and control groups, respectively ( p = 0.17). Mean IOP was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group in years 2, 3, 4, and 5. Conclusion: Serous choroidal detachment affects the long-term surgical success of trabeculectomy, especially in patients with advanced glaucoma when lower target pressure is required.
