Long-term follow-up of initially successful trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil injections

To study the long-term results (1–14 years) of trabeculectomies with 5-fluorouracil injections that were successful at 1 year. A retrospective noncomparative case series. We identified 87 patients (87 eyes) who had trabeculectomies with 5-fluorouracil injections from 1984 to 1989 that were successful at 1 year and had a follow-up range of 1.0 to 14.7 years (mean, 8.1, standard deviation of 4.4 years). All patients had previously failed glaucoma surgery (66.7%), cataract surgery (47.1%), or other diagnoses making them at high risk for failure. Successful control of intraocular pressure (IOP) was defined as IOP less than 21 mmHg or a reduction of 33% if preoperative pressure was less than 21 mmHg. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier life table analysis. If an eye is considered successful by IOP at 1 year, the probability of successful control is 61% at 5 years, 44% at 10 years, and 41% at 14 years. Despite successful IOP control at 1 year, trabeculectomies with 5-fluorouracil injections show a continual loss of IOP control over time.