Complications of subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil following glaucoma filtering surgery

The antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used to inhibit fibroblastic growth to increase the success rate in glaucoma filtration surgery. Subconjunctival 5-FU can have adverse side effects. This paper describes two cases in detail of the ocular side effects of 5-FU. The first case is representative of the ocular surface problems. The second case deals with bleb leaks. Relative contraindications to 5-FU treatment are pre-existing ocular surface problems, early postoperative bleb leaks and fornix-based conjunctival flaps in filtering procedures. New drug delivery methods are presently being investigated to help decrease the adverse side effects and increase the efficacy of 5-FU.