Late argon laser suture lysis after mitomycin C trabeculectomy.
BACKGROUND
Argon laser suture lysis has been effectively used in the early post-operative period to enhance filtration after trabeculectomy. The most substantial reductions in intraocular pressure (IOP) occur when laser suture lysis is performed during the first 2 postoperative weeks, and virtually no effect has been reported after the fourth postoperative week. Mitomycin C, used as adjunct therapy, improves the success rate of trabeculectomy in high-risk eyes and may change the time course for effective suture lysis.


METHODS
The authors used late laser suture lysis in five high-risk patients after mitomycin C trabeculectomy. The mean patient age was 66.8 +/- 15.7 years, and laser suture lysis was performed an average of 13 +/- 5.8 weeks (range, 7-21 weeks) after surgery.


RESULTS
The mean IOP before suture lysis was 20.2 +/- 3.8 mmHg. The average IOP reduction immediately after suture lysis was 11.4 +/- 3.9 mmHg. The average IOP 3 to 4 months after laser suture lysis was 9.4 +/- 3.4 mmHg.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors postulate that adjunctive mitomycin C therapy markedly delays wound healing and appears to extend the period that laser suture lysis is clinically effective.
Pappa
K S
KS
Department of Ophthalmology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Derick
R J
RJ
Weber
P A
PA
Kapetansky
F M
FM
Baker
N D
ND
Lehmann
D M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013537:Sutures; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*
D016685:Mitomycin