Purpose
To access surgical effects in patients with secondary glaucoma in Fuchs’ heterochromic iridocyclitis.
Methods
We had employed medical or surgical treatment for 22 patients who had been diagnosed as secondary glaucoma and Fuchs’ heterochromic iridocyclitis. Thirteen patients had undergone trabeculectomy with intraoperative applications of mitomycin C (MMC), of whom 11 patients had been followed up postoperatively for 25.09 ± 14.4 months (range 6–48 months).
Results
Intraocular pressure (IOP) were controlled medically in 17 of 22 (77.3 %) patients. In 11 patients who had surgical therapy, mean IOP fell from a preoperative initial value of 38.05 ± 7.26 mmHg to 20.63 ± 6.15 mmHg (P = 0.000), and mean number of lowering IOP medications fell from preoperative value of 2.27 ± 0.78 to 1.09 ± 1.22 at postoperative final follow-up time (P = 0.014). The result of Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a total success of 90.9 % was achieved at 1 year, 62.3 % success at 4 years and 63.6 % complete success was achieved at 1 year and 31.8 % at 4 years. Exacerbations of intraocular inflammation with transient IOP rise at the early postoperative period occurred in six patients (23 %), and were controlled with topical corticosteroid. No frequent postoperative uveitic relapses were observed.
Conclusion
Fuchs’ heterochromic iridocyclitis has high morbidity of secondary glaucoma. Regular follow-up and close observation should be carried out. Trabeculectomy with MMC is a moderately effective procedure for patients with secondary glaucoma.