Purpose
To present midterm results and problems pertaining to nonpenetrating lamellar trabeculectomy (NPT) with mitomycin C (MMC)
for Japanese glaucoma patients.
Methods
Thirty-nine patients (39 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma or normal-tension glaucoma underwent NPT. The results were
compared with those in patients treated by penetrating trabeculectomy (PT) with MMC. In addition, the NPT patients were classified
into two groups (group A, 24 patients treated between April 1998 and April 1999; group B, 21 patients treated from May 1999
onward), and the results were compared.
Results
The average intraocular pressure (IOP) was 12.6 ± 2.8 mmHg with NPT and 12.4 ± 3.0 mmHg with PT. No statistical differences
between NPT and PT were identified with respect to IOP at any time after surgery. A life-table analysis showed that the probability
of success (good IOP control) was 37.2% with NPT and 62.5% with PT. No significant difference was detected in postoperative
IOP change or in the probability of success between NPT groups A and B.
Conclusions
While postoperative IOP is similar between PT and NPT, the probability of success is better with PT than with NPT. Postoperative
laser treatment after NPT is effective but sometimes has a negative influence on IOP control. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2007;51:34–40 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2007
Key words midterm results - mitomycin C - Nd:YAG laser trabeculopuncture - nonpenetrating lamellar trabeculectomy - trabeculectomy