Usefulness of Topical Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs or Steroids Before Trabeculectomy and Clinical Outcomes
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2009-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Antiglaucoma medication have been shown to induce subclinical conjunctival inflammation in a
considerable proportion of glaucoma patients. Today, trabeculectomy still remains the gold
standard as surgical treatment of medically uncontrolled glaucoma disease. However, this
procedure is associated with variable possible complications, of which subconjunctival
fibrosis is the most frequent one. The latter results in a non-functional filtering bleb. As
a consequence, either additional interventions such as laser suture lysis, needling, bleb
revision or additional IOP-lowering medication is necessary. Previous studies demonstrated a
benefit of the use of topical steroids postoperatively in reducing inflammation and
subsequent subconjunctival fibrosis. In this perspective, we will prospectively explore the
usefulness of topical NSAID or corticosteroid therapy preoperatively as compared to placebo
in subjects scheduled for first-time trabeculectomy, without interrupting topical
antiglaucoma therapy. This will allow us to determine wether the impact of longterm topical
antiglaucoma therapy on subclinical conjunctival inflammation which possibly result in
postoperative fibrosis and bleb failure can be reversed by anti-inflammatory medication
before filtering surgery.