Effect of Subconjunctival Injection of 5-Fluorouracil after Trabeculectomy

ABSTRACT

5-Fluorouracil(5-FU), an antimetabolite capable of inhibiting fibroblast proliferation, was administered subconjunctivally after trabeculectomy(with or without lens extraction) on 8 eyes of 8 patients with neovascular or aphakic glaucoma, with poor visual acuity and poor surgical prognosis. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 12 months. The mean intraocular pressure was reduced by approximately 65.5%, from 45.3 mmHg preoperatively to 15.6 mmHg postoperatively. Four of 8 eyes required no medication, but 3 needed some topical medication to achieve an intraocular pressure of <21 mmHg, and the remainder was 24 mmHg with hypotensive medication, postoperatively. The postoperative visual acuities improved in 3 of 8 eyes and remained unchanged in 5. Postoperative complications were hyphema in 4 cases, delayed formation of anterior chamber in 1 case, and serious inflammatory reaction in anterior chamber and severe longstanding conjunctival hyperemia in all the cases.