Outcome of trabeculectomy in uveitis patients with secondary glaucoma

Purpose To review the clinical outcome of our series of patients with uveitis and secondary glaucoma in which a trabeculectomy has been performed. Methods Each patient was classified according to clinical presentation, pre and postoperative IOP, visual acuity and number of antiglaucoma drops needed. The outcome of trabeculectomy was classified in 3 categories: absolute success defined as IOP controlled (< 21 mmHg) without other treatment, relative success defined as IOP controlled with hypotensive drops and failed when IOP was not controlled or required hypotensive drops and oral acetazolamide. Success ratio with and without perioperative mitomycin were compared. Results Mean visual acuity, IOP and number of drop used decreased at 3 month and at last follow-up. The mean follow-up was 19.3 months (2.9 – 67.1 months). At 3 month, we found 80% of overall success (53,33% of relative success and 26,67% of absolute success) and 20% of failure. At final follow-up, we also found 80% of overall success(56,67% of relative success and 23,33% of absolute success ) and 20% of failure. Patients in whom perioperative mitomycin were used where more likely to have a favorable outcome (last follow-up: 83.33% vs 75%) but this difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion Our data are in accordance with the rest of the literature which shows that trabeculectomy with antimetabolite agents allows IOP control in the majority of patients. However, many of them will still need topical hypotensive drugs.