FILTERING SURGERY WITH 5-FLUOROURACIL SUBSEQUENT TO MOLTENO IMPLANT

In cases of refractory glaucoma, when Molteno shunt implantation has b een performed and resulted in failure, the best surgical option has no t yet been established. Filtering surgery with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) a s one option for the above was performed in four non-neovascular glauc omatous eyes (four patients) after failure of Molteno shunt implantati on. Injections of 5 mg 5-FU were administered once daily for 9-14 days . After follow-up of 6-18 months in 3 eyes, intraocular pressure range d from 10 to 16 mm Hg. In the fourth eye, in which bleb scarring ensue d, a second filtering surgery with 5-FU was performed after 4 months, and resulted in a successful outcome as recorded 26 months later. Thes e preliminary results suggest that filtering surgery with 5-FU might b e an acceptable surgical option in non-neovascular refractory glaucoma subsequent to failure of Molteno shunt implantation.