Surgery for refractory glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the surgical outcome of mitomycin trabeculectomy in patients with refractory glaucoma. Methods: Sixty-six eyes of 52 patients with refractory glaucoma underwent mitomycin trabeculectomy. Mitomycin was applied for five minutes only once during trabeculectomy. The follow-up period was six to 61 months. Results: Cumulative success probability was calculated using Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis assuming the cut-off postoperative IOP to be 20 mmHg or IOP reduction by at least 20% in eyes with preoperative IOP 24 mmHg. At the end of a 61-month follow-up the success probability was 80% ± 6% without postoperative ocular hypotensive medication (complete success) and was 95% ± 3% regardless of postoperative antiglaucoma medication (overall success), respectively. Conclusion: The data suggest that mitomycin trabeculectomy is efficacious in reducing IOP in patients with refractory glaucoma.