Effects of Subconjunctival Mitomycin C on Glaucoma Triple Procedure, as Compared with Trabeculectomy alone

Baek, Chang Eun; Kim, Joon Hyun; Soh, Yong Ho; Uhm, Ki Bang; Hong, Chul

Abstract

Mitomycin C (MMC) trabeculectomy combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and posteor chamber intraocular lens implantation (glaucoma triple procedure, 30 eyes) was clinically compared with MMC trabeculectomy alone (30 eyes). The age, type of glaucoma, and preoperative number of medications were matched with the previous group (P>0.05). The mean preoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs) were 30.2+/-8.3mmHg (range, 22~56mmHg) in the glaucoma triple procedure group and 31.6+/-8.9mmHg (range, 22~57mmHg) in the trabeculectomy alone group (p=0.55). The mean postoperative IOPs were significantly higher in the glaucoma triple procedure group compared with the trabeculectomy alone group at all postoperative vistis (one month to nine months) (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean number of postoperative rise exceeding 30 mmHg within the postoperative one month tended to occur more frequently in the glaucoma triple procedure group (7 eyes (23%)) than the trabeculectomy alone group (2 eyes(7%)) (p=0.13). Conjunctival filtering blebs were significantly frequently observed in the trabeculectomy alone group than the glaucoma triple procedure group (28 eyes (93%), 20 eyes (67%), respectively, P=0.02) at 6 months postoperatively. The common postoperative complications were hyphema (4 eyes) and posterior capsular opacification (4 eyes) in the glaucoma triple procedure group and shallow anterior chamber(4 statistical difference was noted between these two groups (p>0.05). Although hypotensive effect of MMC on the glaucoma triple procedure was less than on the trabeculectomy alone, glaucoma triple procedure using MMC could be recommended to be safe and effective on controlling the high IOP for treating glaucoma patients with coexisting cataract.