Clinical Study on Interferon Treatment of Early Scarring in Filtering Bleb

Purpose:To investigate the effectiveness of needle revision combined with subconjuctival injection of interferon α-2b in reversing early scarring of filtering blebs following trabeculectomy surgery.Methods:Twenty-five glaucoma patients (31 eyes) who presented with scarred or encapsulated filtering bleb after glaucoma surgery underwent needle revision in combination with subconjuctival injection of interferon α-2b,and were followed for 12 months.Intraocular pressure (IOP) and filtering bleb morphology were observed post treatment.Results:.The mean time until scarring occurred was 21.0±7.4 days..The average time between recognition of bleb scarring and completion of needle revision was 2.2±0.8 days.The time interval between surgery and needle revision was inversely correlated with the time until needle revision (r=-0.694,P < 0.001).The mean IOPs before and after needle revision were 24.2±2.7 mmHg and 19.6±3.8 mmHg,respectively (t=5.916,P < 0.001)..At the 12-month follow-up visit,.18 eyes (58.1%).achieved complete success in IOP control,.and 6 eyes (19.4%) had conditional success..The overall success rate for needling was thus 77.4%.Subconjunctival hemorrhage was observed in 4 eyes during the needle revision procedure.Punctate staining was found in the corneal epithelium of 2 eyes.Shallow anterior chamber (Grade I or II) was identified in 5 eyes.Conclusion:Slit-lamp needle revision combined with subconjunctival injection of interferon α-2b may be efficacious in the treatment of early scarring of filtering blebs,easy and safe to perform,.and may be considered for more widespread application.