Non-penetrating glaucoma surgery augmented with mitomycin C or 5-fluorouracil in eyes at high risk of failure of filtration surgery: long-term results

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of non-penetrating glaucoma surgery (NPGS) augmented with mitomycin C (MMC) or 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in eyes at high risk of failure of glaucoma filtration surgery. METHODS: Prospective study of all eyes, undergoing NPGS with 0.04% MMC (1 to 2 min topical or 0.04 mL subconjunctival injection into the superior fornix) or 5FU (25 mg/mL topically for 5 min). Complete success was an intraocular pressure (IOP)or=20% drop in IOP or a reduction of at least two medications. RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes of 22 patients with a mean follow up of 41.4 months were reviewed. Fifteen eyes had failed trabeculectomy and seven had uveitic glaucoma. Mean preoperative IOP reduced from 25.8+/-7.8 to 15.4+/-4.9 mmHg at final visit, a mean change of 41%. Median number of preoperative medications decreased from 3 to 0 postoperatively. Cumulative probability of success was 100% at 2 years, 94% at 3 years and 85% at 4 years. No patient developed any long-term complications. Complete success was achieved in 11 eyes and qualified success in 10 eyes. Two eyes failed and required further surgery. CONCLUSION: NPGS augmented with small-volume MMC/5FU provides good long-term IOP control in eyes at high risk of failure with a lower incidence of complications compared with augmented trabeculectomy and eliminates the need for postoperative bleb or suture manipulation.