[Perioperative Anti-inflammatory Treatment in Glaucoma Surgery]

Many clinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of topical anti-inflammatory medication before and after glaucoma surgery, especially for trabeculectomy, and that they improve the long term outcome. Pre- and postoperative topical steroids improve the outcome of trabeculectomy, but duration and intensity of treatment should be adapted individually. Systemic steroid or oral immunomodulation have significant impact on the outcome in uveitic glaucoma, but not in other glaucoma subtypes. Additional topical treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories is an option in combined cataract-glaucoma surgery. Anti-inflammatory treatment after selective laser trabeculoplasty is not necessary, but relieves pain after argon laser trabeculoplasty and laser cyclophotocoagulation. Intravitreal application of steroids in glaucoma surgery must be critically evaluated and must consider the risk of a rise in secondary intraocular pressure.