Zusammenfassung
Background. The preoperative switch from local to systemic antiglaucomatous therapy and the additional application of local antiphlogistic drugs represents an important component of perioperative wound healing modulation within the framework of glaucoma filtration surgery. Objective. The aim of the present study was to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) under a maximum local and oral ...
Zusammenfassung
Background. The preoperative switch from local to systemic antiglaucomatous therapy and the additional application of local antiphlogistic drugs represents an important component of perioperative wound healing modulation within the framework of glaucoma filtration surgery. Objective. The aim of the present study was to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) under a maximum local and oral antiglaucomatous therapy with or without additional application of local steroids. Methods. A retrospective clinical analysis of 121 consecutive patients who underwent primary trabeculectomy for open-angle glaucoma in 2013 and who attended the outpatient clinic at least 3 weeks before surgery was carried out. The patients were set on preoperative therapy as follows: continuation of the maximum local antiglaucomatous therapy (with or without local dexamethasone 1 mg/ml 3 times daily) or administration of 750 mg acetazolamide orally per day (with or without local steroids). Results. The switch to oral antiglaucomatous therapy led to a mean IOP rise of 3.14 mmHg which was short of statistical significance (p = 0.052). The additional administration of local steroids did not significantly influence the IOP (p = 0.218). Some patients with oral acetazolamide therapy and local steroid application showed large increases in IOP up to 30 mm Hg. Conclusion. The mean IOP rise of 3.14 mmHg 3 weeks after replacement of antiglaucomatous eye drops by acetazolamide was short of missing statistical significance and seems to be clinically negligible for this relatively short period. The advantages of a lower postoperative fibrotic activity have to be weighed up against this change in IOP. Surprisingly, the effect of administration of local steroids for 3 weeks was minor compared to the effect of the switch from local to oral antiglaucomatous medication. Individual major IOP increases under the preoperative therapy change should be taken into consideration.