Midterm results and the problems of nonpenetrating lamellar trabeculectomy with mitomycin C for Japanese glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To present midterm results and problems pertaining to nonpenetrating lamellar trabeculectomy (NPT) with mitomycin C (MMC) for Japanese glaucoma patients.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients (39 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma or normal-tension glaucoma underwent NPT. The results were compared with those in patients treated by penetrating trabeculectomy (PT) with MMC. In addition, the NPT patients were classified into two groups (group A, 24 patients treated between April 1998 and April 1999; group B, 21 patients treated from May 1999 onward), and the results were compared.

RESULTS

The average intraocular pressure (IOP) was 12.6 +/- 2.8 mmHg with NPT and 12.4 +/- 3.0 mmHg with PT. No statistical differences between NPT and PT were identified with respect to IOP at any time after surgery. A life-table analysis showed that the probability of success (good IOP control) was 37.2% with NPT and 62.5% with PT. No significant difference was detected in postoperative IOP change or in the probability of success between NPT groups A and B.

CONCLUSIONS

While postoperative IOP is similar between PT and NPT, the probability of success is better with PT than with NPT. Postoperative laser treatment after NPT is effective but sometimes has a negative influence on IOP control.