Autologous blood injection for marked overfiltration early after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C.

PURPOSE After trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, extremely low intraocular pressure (IOP) with excess filtration may cause hypotonous maculopathy in the early postoperative period. We evaluated the effect of injecting autologous blood on reversing early postoperative marked hypotony after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. METHODS Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C was performed in 258 eyes between 1994 and 1998. Peribleb autologous blood injection was performed in five eyes in which pressure patches were ineffective in reversing excess filtration. Approximately 0.1 to 0.3 ml of whole unclotted blood was slowly injected at least 3 mm from the edge of the flap using a sterile 27-gauge needle. RESULTS None of these eyes developed hypotonous maculopathy after injection. After a mean 31-month follow-up, all eyes had well-controlled IOP and visual acuity in three eyes was much improved. Postoperative complications included mild IOP elevation in one eye treated with laser suturelysis, and fibrinous pupillary membrane in one eye. CONCLUSION In the early postoperative period, autologous blood injection is effective in reversing excess filtration.