Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C versus trabeculectomy with mitomycin C alone for neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) before mitomycin C trabeculectomy (MMCT) for neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

METHODS: The study is a retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series. The study group consisted of 57 eyes from 50 patients with NVG who underwent a first MMCT: 33 eyes were treated with MMCT alone between June 1, 2005 and May 17, 2007 (Control Group); and, 24 eyes were treated with a combination of IVB and MMCT after May 18, 2007 (IVB Group). Surgical complications, intraocular pressure (IOP), and the probability of success were compared between the 2 groups. Surgical failure was defined as IOP ≥22 mm Hg for 2 consecutive follow-up visits, a deterioration of visual acuity to no light perception, or additional glaucoma surgeries.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in preoperative data between the groups. Hyphema associated with MMCT occurred significantly less often in the IVB Group (P=0.006). IOPs at 7 and 10 days after MMCT were significantly lower in the IVB Group (P=0.01 and 0.02, respectively). However, Kaplan-Meier survival-curve analysis showed the probability of success 120, 240, and 360 days after MMCT of 87.5%, 79.2%, and 65.2% in the IVB Group, and 75.0%, 71.9%, and 65.3% in the Control Group. No significant difference in survival times was found between the groups (P=0.76).

CONCLUSIONS: IVB before MMCT reduced hyphema associated with MMCT for NVG. IVB provided further IOP reduction immediately after MMCT, but did not significantly improve surgical outcomes over longer periods.