Effectiveness of glaucoma surgery in preserving corneal transparency in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

AIM: Our study's aim was to examine possible changes in Scheimpflug corneal densitometry among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) 12 months after trabeculectomy compared with healthy controls.

METHODS

A total of 35 eyes from 35 patients diagnosed with POAG and 34 eyes from 34 age-matched healthy controls were included. Corneal densitometry with Scheimpflug Pentacam HR corneal topography was evaluated in three corneal regions (i.e., 0-2, 2-6, and 6-10 mm) and four quadrants (i.e., upper, lower, temporal, and nasal) in patients before and 12 months after trabeculectomy and compared with a control group. The number and duration of use of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering agents, daily applications, and benzalkonium chloride (BAC) content were recorded before surgery.

RESULTS

Mean IOP significantly decreased from 25.5 ± 4.7 to 14.6 ± 3.0 mm Hg, while the amount of IOP-reducing agents decreased from 3.51 ± 0.5 to 0.37 ± 0.4 (both p < 0.001). Of all topical agents, 83 % contained benzalkonium chloride. Total corneal densitometry values at the 12th month before and after surgery among patients with POAG were significantly decreased in all zones and quadrants except the superior quadrant in the 2-6 mm zone and the nasal quadrant in the 6-10 mm zone. No significant difference between patients after surgery and the control group appeared in any zone or quadrant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Per our findings, the discontinuation of topical antiglaucomatous agents (e.g.,BAC) and the effective reduction of IOP after trabeculectomy may improve corneal transparency.