Deep sclerectomy in normal‐tension glaucoma with and without mitomycin‐c

Abstract

To compare the outcome of deep sclerectomy (DS) with and without mitomycin-C (MMC) in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). We prospectively analysed the results of 37 eyes of 37 consecutive patients with NTG (age; mean ± SD; 64 ± 7 years) who underwent DS with a collagen implant. Patients were randomized to the MMC and non-MMC groups. Subconjunctival MMC (0.4 mg/ml for 3 min) was used intraoperatively in 15 of 37 eyes. We defined total success as 25% reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) without medication. Follow-up time was 12 months. The mean preoperative IOP was significantly reduced from 15.2 ± 2.8 mmHg to 9.3 ± 2.7 (p < 0.001) in the MMC group after 12-month follow-up and from 15.1 ± 2.9 mmHg to 11.8 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001) in the non-MMC group. At 12 months, the mean IOP was significantly lower in the MMC group (p = 0.003) compared with the non-MMC group. Total success was achieved in 10 of 15 eyes (67%) in MMC group and in nine of 22 eyes (41%) in non-MMC group (p = 0.12). The number of glaucoma medications was decreased from 2.2 ± 0.8 to 0.5 ± 1.2 in MMC group (p = 0.001) and from 2.6 ± 1.0 to 0.5 ± 0.7 in non-MMC group (p < 0.001). Goniopuncture was performed in seven eyes (47%) in the MMC group, compared with 16 eyes (73%) in the non-MMC group (p = 0.13). IOP < 10 mmHg was achieved in seven of 15 eyes in the MMC group and in two of 22 in the non-MMC group (p = 0.009). Complication rate was low, and no difference between groups was evident. Deep sclerectomy seems to be effective and safe in reducing IOP in patients with NTG. Intraoperative use of MMC results in lower postoperative IOP 12-month postoperatively without increased rate of complications.