Trabeculectomy Following Vitrectomy in Refractory Glaucoma with Vitreous Filling of the Anterior Chamber: a Case Series

Abstract

To evaluate the 1-year clinical outcome of subsequent trabeculectomy following 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy in refractory glaucoma with vitreous filling of the anterior chamber. Methods: This study was a retrospective and consecutive case series study. We reviewed the medical records of pseudophakic and aphakic glaucoma patients with vitreous filling of the anterior chamber who underwent subsequent trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC), following 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy. All patients had been followed up for more than 12 months. Complete surgical success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤18 mmHg and IOP reduction ≥20% without glaucoma medication. Qualified surgical success was defined as IOP ≤18 mmHg and an IOP reduction ≥20% with or without glaucoma medication. Results: Eight eyes of seven patients (four eyes of four patients with pseudophakic glaucoma and four eyes of three patients with aphakic glaucoma) were included in this study. The cumulative probability of qualified success was 87.5%, and the cumulative probability of complete success was 62.5% at 12 months after trabeculectomy. The mean IOP decreased from 28.1 ± 3.5 mmHg preoperatively to 15.0 ± 3.7 mmHg at the final visit (p = 0.012). The mean number of glaucoma medications decreased from 4 ± 0 to 1.5 ± 2.1 at the final visit (p = 0.010). Complications including retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, cystoid macular edema, and vitreous incarceration into the fistula were not observed. Conclusions: Transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy and subsequent trabeculectomy with MMC is an effective method for controlling IOP in pseudophakic and aphakic glaucoma with vitreous filling of the anterior chamber.