Long-term Outcomes of Mitomycin-C Trabeculectomy in Exfoliative Glaucoma Versus Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

To compare long-term surgical outcomes in exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) versus primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) after primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C.

This retrospective, case-control study included 32 eyes of XFG and 64 eyes of POAG matched by propensity score analysis. Surgical success was defined according to 3 different criteria: (1) intraocular pressure (IOP)<18 mm Hg and IOP reduction ≥20% without medication; (2) IOP<15 mm Hg and IOP reduction ≥25% without medication; and (3) IOP<18 mm Hg and IOP reduction ≥20% with or without medication. Cumulative probabilities of success were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and risk factors of surgical failure were analyzed.

Cumulative success rates were 84.4% at 1 year and 19.9% at 5 years for XFG, and 82.3% and 64.7%, respectively, for POAG by criterion A. Complete success rates were significantly lower for XFG than for POAG by criteria A and B. However, qualified success, as determined by criterion C, did not show a statistically significant difference. Postoperative hyphema was more frequent for XFG. The risk factors associated with surgical failure were a young age (<60 y; hazard ratio=2.58, P=0.047, criterion A) and exfoliation syndrome (hazard ratio=3.01, 2.96, P=0.006, 0.005, criteria A and B).

Although trabeculectomy for XFG had success rates similar to POAG at 1 year, XFG showed poorer long-term IOP control from 2 years postoperatively. This study indicates that it is more difficult to achieve long-term low target IOP control in eyes with XFG than in eyes with POAG after trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C.