The Effect of 5-Fluorouracil or Mitomycin-C in Glaucoma Filtration Surgery on the Rabbit Cornea and Sclera

ABSTRACT

The authors investigated the toxicity of two antimetabolites. 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) and mitomycin-C(MMC) on the rabbit cornea and sclera following glaucoma filtration surgery(GFS). Forty rabbits were divided into four groups; the first control group(I) was the balanced salt solution soaked group(BSS) during GFS, the second(II) was the 5-FU subconjunctival injected group(5-FU SC) after GFS, the third(III) was the 5-FU soaked group(5-FU) during GFS, and the fourth(IV) was the MMC soaked group(MMC) during GFS. At the fifth day after GFS, scanning electron microscopic findings showed that corneal epithelial cells were most seriously damaged in 5-FU SC group, slightly damaged in 5-FU group, and no change in MMC and BSS group. At six months after GFS, transmission electron microscopic observation on sclera revealed the most profound degenerative changes in 5-FU group, and followed by an order of MMC, 5-FU SC, and BSS group. These results suggest that the dosage and application method of antimetabolites should be selected with great caution to prevent ocular toxicity.