Effect of mitomycin C on ciliary body and intraocular pressure with various application depths: an experimental study

To evaluate the effects of mitomycin C (MMC) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ciliary body via transmission electron microscopy when applied under conjunctiva or different depths of sclera, without performing any filtering surgery.

Thirty-six eyes of 36 New Zealand albino rabbits were used in this study. MMC was prepared in a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL and 0.05 cc (20 microg) was soaked in preprepared sterile surgical sponges. Six groups each consisting of six eyes were formed and IOP was measured preoperatively. Group 1 was the control group: the superior conjunctiva was opened and only irrigated with balanced salt solution (BSS). In group 2, MMC soaked sponges were applied under the conjunctiva. In groups 3 and 4, a scleral flap of approximately 1/3 scleral thickness was prepared and in groups 5 and 6, and a scleral flap of approximately 2/3 scleral thickness was prepared, all with a standard size of 4 x 4 mm. MMC soaked sponges were applied under these areas for 5 min in eyes in groups 3 and 5 followed by an irrigation of the relevant areas with 10 cc BSS, whereas only irrigation with BSS was done in groups 4 and 6 as control groups. No filtering procedure was performed in any of the eyes. Eyes were enucleated on the 30th day following measurement of IOP and the ciliary body regions were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy. Kruskal-Wallis test was used for the statistical assessment of IOP between groups.

The deep scleral flap group (group 5) showed statistically significantly more IOP reduction than both the superficial scleral flap group (group 3; P = 0.004) and the subconjunctival group (group 2; P = 0.002) on postoperative day 30. Electron microscopic evaluation of the surgical groups revealed a wide range of different histopathological effects due to different MMC application methods. The histopathological changes were more evident in the group 5, where MMC was applied under deep scleral flap.

Subscleral application of MMC seems to provide greater IOP decrease than subconjunctival application, possibly caused by a more significant ciliary body toxicity. This may be the beginning of a non-penetrating, easy to perform and safe method to decrease IOP in glaucoma patients, which the authors call 'toxic ciliary ablation surgery'. However, the long-term results and complications must be assessed with further studies.