Surgical outcomes of uveitic glaucoma

PURPOSE Secondary glaucoma is a difficult and frequent complication of uveitis. The aim of this study is to describe the results of surgery in uveitic glaucoma and to identify situations linked to a high risk of failure of the surgery. METHODS Retrospective observational study. Clinical and surgical data from 27 cases of uveitic glaucoma that underwent glaucoma surgery over a period of 9 years were collected. RESULTS The main diagnosis and aetiology were anterior uveitis (61.90%) and herpes (38.10%) respectively. Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C was performed in 51.9% of the cases. An intraocular pressure lower than 16 mmHg and managed with less than two drugs was achieved in 48.15% of the cases. Higher risks of surgical failure were associated with intermediate uveitis, idiopathic uveitis, Fuchs' cyclitis, combined surgery with phacoemulsification, omission of mitomycin C, intraocular inflammation at surgery and relapse of the uveitis. CONCLUSIONS There are some situations linked to a high risk of failure of surgery in uveitic glaucoma, which should be avoided when possible, mainly the association of higher risk with combined approaches.