Five-Year Results of 5-Fluorouracil Augmented Needling Revision of Failing Blebs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the 5-year intraocular pressure (IOP) outcomes of patients requiring a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) needling revision compared to a matched sample. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty eyes receiving 5-FU bleb needling revision were matched to 40 patients not needled. IOP was recorded preoperatively and annually to 5 years. The main outcome measure was surgical success: IOP control without medications or surgery. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with 5-FU needling revision (80.0%) required anti-glaucoma medication postoperatively versus 28 control patients (70%) (P > .05). Thirty-two patients with 5-FU needling revision were complete or qualified successes compared to 36 control patients (P = .34). Eight patients with 5-FU needling revision (20%) had a reoperation versus 4 control patients (10%) (P > .05). CONCLUSION: 5-FU needling revision can produce long-term IOP control levels similar to those who did not require the procedure. No statistically significant differences between the two groups was seen in either the use of medications or further surgery.