The Effect of Preoperative Subconjunctival Triamcinolone Administration on Glaucoma Filtration

ABSTRACT

The trabeculectcmies were performed on 12 eyes with uncontrolled glaucoma which had not been treated by the maximum use of tolerated antiglaucoma medication. We assumed that all of these eyes would be at increased risk by episcleral cicatricial closure in the patient with one of the following cases; congenital glaucoma, age of 40 year or less, previously failed glaucoma filtration surgery, aphakia and uveitis. A standard operation was performed except tbat triamcinolone acetonide(4mg) was injected subconjunctivally at the intended trabeculectcmy site one week before surgery in 10 eyes, and cn the day of surgery in 2 eyes. During the followup period of 5 months or more, 11 of 12 eyes had an intraocular pressre(IOP) of 19mmHg or less. The average IOP for these 11 eyes was 14.5 +/- 3.4mmHg(mean +/- SD), and only 2 of the 11 eyes required antiglaucoma medication. One eye was a surgical failure. All eyes with controlled IOP showed micro cystic filtration blebs on slit lamp examination. The postoperative visual acuity was within one line of the preoperative level in all eyes, except for the one surgical failure. The use of triamcinolone acetonide does not seem to have added any additional risks to the postoperative period.