Efficacy and safety of deep sclerectomy in uveitic glaucoma

Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of deep sclerectomy with implant and mitomycin C in uveitic glaucoma. Design Prospective, noncomparative case study. Patients and methods Nine patients (13 eyes) with uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma underwent deep sclerectomy with implant from 2002 to 2006. All patients had their uveitis controlled before and after surgery with anti-inflammatory therapy. Main outcome measures Control of intraocular pressure. A secondary outcome measure was the number of antiglaucoma medications required to achieve the desired intraocular pressure. Visual acuity and complication associated with the surgery were monitored. Results Mean follow-up was 21 months (range 12–54 months). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was reduced from a mean preoperative value of 28.7 mmHg to a mean postoperative value of 13.85 mmHg (Wilcoxon signed rank test P = 0.005). At the most recent visit, complete success was obtained in 84.6%, qualified success was obtained in 7.7%, and complete failure in 7.7%. Mean number of antiglaucoma medications was reduced from 3.07 to 0.2 (Wilcoxon signed rank test P = 0.001). Neodymium:YAG goniopuncture was performed in two eyes. Postoperative complications included transient hypotony with maculopathy in one eye, shallow choroidal effusions in two eyes, and progression of cataract in four eyes. Conclusion Deep sclerectomy with implant in uveitic glaucoma appeared to be effective in controlling the IOP at short-term follow-up with no serious postoperative side-effects.