Mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy in refractory congenital glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is to determine the safety and efficacy of mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy in children with developmental glaucoma treated previously by conventional procedures.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of all cases of developmental glaucoma with previously failed conventional procedures that underwent mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy between January 1992 and December 1994.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 19 eyes of 13 patients were included in the study. Nineteen eyes included primary congenital glaucoma (15 eyes) with documented failure of primary trabeculotomy, Axenfeld-Reiger syndrome (2 eyes) and aniridia (2 eyes).

INTERVENTION: Mitomycin C-augmented (0.4 mg/ml for 3 minutes) trabeculectomy was the chosen intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs), visual acuities, success rate, bleb characteristics, time of surgical failure, and complications were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

The mean IOP was reduced from a preoperative level of 33.74 +/- 10.70 mmHg to 11.89 +/- 1.33 mmHg (P < 0.0001) with the percentage reduction in IOP being 64.75. The mean follow-up was 19.52 +/- 2.65 months. Visual acuity was maintained in all the cases after surgery. Complete success as defined in the authors' study was achieved in 18 eyes (94.74%). Only one patient was classified as a qualified success. The bleb was characterized by its large elevated, avascular, transparent appearance in all the eyes. The only significant complication was retinal detachment in an eye with buphthalmos, aphakia, and large axial length. However, the retina was reattached successfully by retinal reattachment surgery, and visual acuity improved to the preoperative level of 20/200. It was not possible to determine the cause of retinal detachment or to assess the possible role of mitomycin C in this complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy is a viable option in eyes with failed conventional trabeculotomy surgery.