Comparison of Surgical Outcomes between Trabeculectomy and Aqueous Shunt Surgery in Patients with Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare surgical outcomes and corneal endothelial cell densities in patients with glaucoma secondary to iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome who underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (MMC) versus those who underwent Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) implantation. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with ICE syndrome who underwent either trabeculectomy with MMC or AGV implantation were included in this study. All patients had more than 12 months of follow-up after glaucoma surgery. Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity (VA) and corneal endothelial cell density were compared according to the method of surgery. RESULTS: Ten eyes had undergone a trabeculectomy with MMC, and 11 eyes had an AGV implantation. In eyes that underwent a trabeculectomy with a MMC, there were no statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative month 12 in IOP, VA or corneal endothelial cell density. In eyes that underwent AGV implantation, postoperative IOP, VA and corneal endothelial cell density were statistically significantly lower than the preoperative values. CONCLUSIONS: When determining the method of glaucoma surgery in patients with ICE syndrome, the additional procedures needed to maintain the surgical success of trabeculectomy with MMC and the corneal decompensation which is caused by a decrease in corneal endothelial cell density after AGV implantation should be considered.