Mitomycin C primary trabeculectomy with releasable sutures in primary glaucoma

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of mitomycin C and a releasable suture tec hnique on outcomes of primary trabeculectomy in primary glaucoma patients. Methods: A prospective analysis of patients who underwent primary trabecule ctomy with a mitomycin C concentration of 0.2 mg/mL for 2 minutes. For clos ing the scleral flap, releasable sutures were used in 18 patients (17 eyes) , Group 1, or permanent sutures in 18 patients (20 eyes), Group 2. Clinical outcome factors including postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, and incidence of complications were determined. Results: The mean follow-up periods were 8.1 +/- 1.3 months in Group 1 and 8.3 +/- 1.3 months in Group 2. The postoperative reduction in IOP was highl y significant (P < .0001) at all time intervals in both groups. In all meas urement of IOP before the second week, mean IOP in Group 2 was found signif icantly lower than the mean IOP in Group 1 (P = .01). No statistically sign ificant differences were found between the groups at later mean IOP measure ments. At the last visit, the complete success rate was 88.8% in Group 1 an d 85.0% in Group 2. No serious complications such as hypotonous maculopathy were observed in ally patient. Conclusion: Primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin C in eyes with primary gl aucoma showed effective IOP pressure reduction. There were no cases of seri ous complications. In the early postoperative period IOP was controlled bet ter in the releasable suture group. (C) 2000 Japanese Ophthalmological Soci ety.