Midterm reversible failure in trabeculectomies with adjunctive mitomycin-C.
OBJECTIVE
Trabeculectomies usually fail early (< 21 days) or late (> 6 months) when no antifibrotic agent is used. Failure is uncommon during the midterm period, between 3 weeks and 6 months. The purpose of this study is to verify the incidence of failure of trabeculectomies with mitomycin-C (MMC) during the midterm period and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laser suture lysis (LSL) for reversing it.


METHODS
The authors reviewed the records of 130 consecutive patients who underwent trabeculectomy with adjunctive MMC.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients (15 eyes) had increased intraocular pressure (IOP), between 21 and 185 days (median 41 days). LSL was effective in decreasing the IOP to acceptable levels in 10 (66.6%) of the 15 eyes. No complications related to LSL were noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
The reversibility of midterm failure seems to be a unique feature of trabeculectomies with MMC.
Kasahara
N
N
New England Glaucoma Research Foundation, Schepens Eye Research Institute.
Smith
T J
TJ
Sibayan
S A
SA
Montenegro
M H
MH
Simmons
R B
RB
Simmons
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016685:Mitomycin