Changes in macular thickness after trabeculectomy with or without adjunctive 5-fluorouracil

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Surgery
• Macular Edema

Background:

• Trabeculectomy is a common glaucoma surgery.
• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is sometimes used adjunctively.
• Macular changes after surgery require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess macular thickness changes after trabeculectomy.
• To evaluate the role of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in these changes.
• To analyze associations between macular thickness and intraocular pressure (IOP) post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 106 eyes undergoing trabeculectomy.
• Macular thickness and IOP measured pre-surgery, 1 week, and 6 months post-surgery.
• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography used for macular assessment.

Main Results:

• Intraocular pressure (IOP) significantly reduced post-trabeculectomy.
• Macular thickness increased significantly one week post-surgery, correlating with IOP reduction.
• Macular thickening persisted in central and nasal subfields at six months.
• 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) did not affect macular thickness changes.

Conclusions:

• Trabeculectomy can cause transient macular thickening, especially early post-operation.
• Reduced IOP is a key factor associated with increased macular thickness.
• Adjunctive 5-FU does not influence postoperative macular thickness despite its known effects.