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Purpose: When patients with glaucoma require cataract surgery, combined procedures offer important advantages over cataract surgery alone. Because mitomycin C has improved the success rate of a trabeculectomy in patients at high risk for filtration failure, the authors investigated whether it also would increase the survival rate of functioning filters in combined procedures., Methods: Patients with both cataract and glaucoma underwent combined mitomycin C trabeculectomy, extracapsular cataract extraction, and intraocular lens implantation. Mitomycin C (0.5 mg/ml) was applied topically to the trabeculectomy site for 5 minutes before the cataract extraction. Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, and astigmatism were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. One-year results are available for 74 patients., Results: At 1 year, 54 (73%) of 74 patients had IOPs of 15 mmHg or less without glaucoma medications. Visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 44 (60%) of 74 patients. Ten (15%) patients had a shift of more than 2 diopters of astigmatism against the rule compared with preoperative values. No notable corneal epithelial toxicity was present. Postoperative symptomatic hypotony with the wound construction occurred in 3 (4%) of 74 patients, with 1 patient requiring surgical revision. Other potential complications of mitomycin C include endothelial toxicity (1 patient had decreased vision due to endothelial folds) and wound stability (1 patient had wound rupture after direct ocular trauma)., Conclusion: The 1-year survival rate of a functioning trabeculectomy using mitomycin C in combined glaucoma and cataract surgery is encouraging. The longer-term benefits and possible adverse effects of mitomycin C in combined procedures are unknown and continue to be investigated.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if an endoscope would improve visualization of the anterior chamber angle and facilitate goniotomy in a surgical cloudy corneal model of primary infantile glaucoma., Methods: A 23-gauge needle coupled to a 0.8-mm diameter flexible endoscope entered the anterior chamber of porcine cadaver eyes through a corneal incision near the limbus. Internal structures were observed on a videoscreen and recorded as the needle approached and incised pectinate ligaments near Schwalbe's line. The eyes were then prepared for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy., Results: Internal structures were clearly visualized on the videoscreen during the goniotomy. The incision of pectinate ligaments was accompanied by the iris falling back and opening of the trabecular meshwork compared with the untreated portion of the angle. This was confirmed histopathologically., Conclusions: An endoscope coaxially coupled to a goniotomy needle tip allows visualization of the anterior chamber angle during goniotomy in the pig despite the presence of a cloudy cornea. The porcine anterior chamber angle is a useful animal model for studying the surgical treatment of primary infantile glaucoma.