Observation of Damage to the Blood-Aqueous Barrier after Trabeculectomy with Mitomycin C

ABSTRACT

We observed the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C by using laser flaremeter. There were 20 patients (25 eyes) of which 9 patients(11 eyes) were applied 0.02% MMC for 3minutes during the trabeculectomy and 11 patients (14 eyes) were not applied MMC. All patients were diagnosed as primary open angle glaucoma and underwent trabeculectomy. The preoperative, postoperative 1 day and 3 months aqueous flare intensity were 10.8+/- 5.05, 15.6+/- 5.32, 10.1+/- 4.55(photon count/msec)in group with MMC and 10.6+/-4.04,15.9+/-3.30, 9.2+/-3.94(photon count/msec) in group without MMC Anterior chamber flares were highest on the first postoperative day, declining rapidly in the first week with more gradual recovery to preoperative level by 1 month postoperatively, which shows the breakdown of blood-aqueous barrier by surgery. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in postsurgical aqueous flare intensity. 0.02% MMC does not appear.