A retrospective study has highlighted how prolonged use of glaucoma eye drops before surgery can affect the long-term success of trabeculectomy (a common surgical procedure for lowering eye pressure in glaucoma patients).
The Korean study explains “glaucoma is primarily treated using topical medications aimed at reducing the IOP [intra octular pressure or pressure in the eye]…However, when these medications fail to control the IOP, or when the disease progresses, surgical intervention becomes necessary. Among the various surgical techniques developed for glaucoma treatment, trabeculectomy is considered the gold standard owing to its long-term efficacy in maintaining stable IOP levels”.
Researchers followed 309 eyes of 201 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma for over 10 years. They used the Glaucoma Medication Intensity Index (GMII) to measure how much glaucoma medication each patient had used before surgery. The study found that:
- Patients with higher GMII scores (more prolonged and frequent medication use) had lower long-term success rates after trabeculectomy.
- Patients with a GMII of 4.35 or higher were more likely to need further treatment after surgery.
- Older age and cataract surgery after trabeculectomy also increased the risk of surgery failure.
The findings suggest that prolonged use of glaucoma medications (especially those with preservatives) can lead to tissue changes that reduce surgical success. This highlights the importance of early surgical intervention for some patients and careful preoperative planning.
If you or a loved one are managing glaucoma, it’s important to discuss all treatment options with your eye specialist, including how long-term medication use may impact future surgical outcomes.
(Based on research by Somi Lee, Do Young Park, Min Gu Huh & Soon Cheol Cha, published in Scientific Reports, November 2024.)
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