Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C versus trabeculectomy with mitomycin C alone for neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) before mitomycin C trabeculectomy (MMCT) for neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

METHODS

The study is a retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series. The study group consisted of 57 eyes from 50 patients with NVG who underwent a first MMCT: 33 eyes were treated with MMCT alone between June 1, 2005 and May 17, 2007 (Control Group); and, 24 eyes were treated with a combination of IVB and MMCT after May 18, 2007 (IVB Group). Surgical complications, intraocular pressure (IOP), and the probability of success were compared between the 2 groups. Surgical failure was defined as IOP ≥22 mm Hg for 2 consecutive follow-up visits, a deterioration of visual acuity to no light perception, or additional glaucoma surgeries.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in preoperative data between the groups. Hyphema associated with MMCT occurred significantly less often in the IVB Group (P=0.006). IOPs at 7 and 10 days after MMCT were significantly lower in the IVB Group (P=0.01 and 0.02, respectively). However, Kaplan-Meier survival-curve analysis showed the probability of success 120, 240, and 360 days after MMCT of 87.5%, 79.2%, and 65.2% in the IVB Group, and 75.0%, 71.9%, and 65.3% in the Control Group. No significant difference in survival times was found between the groups (P=0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

IVB before MMCT reduced hyphema associated with MMCT for NVG. IVB provided further IOP reduction immediately after MMCT, but did not significantly improve surgical outcomes over longer periods.