Re: Gedde et al.: Treatment outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study after 5 years of follow-up (Ophthalmology. 2022;129:1344–1356)

We read the companion papers by Gedde et al1Gedde S.J. Feuer W.J. Lim K.S. et al.Treatment outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy study after 5 years of follow-up.Ophthalmology. 2022; 129: 1344-1356Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar,2Gedde S.J. Feuer W.J. Lim K.S. et al.Postoperative complications in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy study during 5 years of follow-up.Ophthalmology. 2022; 129: 1357-1367Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar on the outcomes and complications in their landmark Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) study. Notwithstanding the adequate design and fairly substantial sample size of their study, the authors conclude that their trial did “not demonstrate clear superiority of one type of glaucoma operation over the other” with respect to surgical failure or average postoperative intraocular pressure.1Gedde S.J. Feuer W.J. Lim K.S. et al.Treatment outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy study after 5 years of follow-up.Ophthalmology. 2022; 129: 1344-1356Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar As for complications, they come to the same conclusion: although early postoperative complications were more often reported after trabeculectomy, the rates of late and/or serious complications were similar for both study groups.2Gedde S.J. Feuer W.J. Lim K.S. et al.Postoperative complications in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy study during 5 years of follow-up.Ophthalmology. 2022; 129: 1357-1367Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar It may not come as a surprise, therefore, that at the end of the discussion section of their “complications” paper, the authors observe that “comparative studies like the PTVT study are required.”2Gedde S.J. Feuer W.J. Lim K.S. et al.Postoperative complications in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy study during 5 years of follow-up.Ophthalmology. 2022; 129: 1357-1367Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar Considering this call for further investigation, it came as a surprise that none of the PTVT papers refer to an almost equivalent randomized clinical trial by Islamaj et al, the 5 years follow-up results of which were published online in November 2019.3Islamaj E. Wubbels R.J. de Waard P.W.T. Primary Baerveldt versus trabeculectomy study after 5 years of follow-up.Acta Ophthalmol. 2020; 98: 400-407Crossref PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar This omission seems to be even more remarkable because both the results and the conclusions of the PTVT (multicenter, 242 eyes) study and of the study by Islamaj et al (single-center, 119 eyes)3Islamaj E. Wubbels R.J. de Waard P.W.T. Primary Baerveldt versus trabeculectomy study after 5 years of follow-up.Acta Ophthalmol. 2020; 98: 400-407Crossref PubMed Scopus (9) Google Scholar happen to be strongly in agreement with each other. Obviously, we support the recommendation by Gedde et al for further data collection, in particular by extending the 5 years follow-up period. Treatment Outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study after 5 Years of Follow-upOphthalmologyVol. 129Issue 12PreviewTo report 5-year treatment outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study. Full-Text PDF Postoperative Complications in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study During 5 Years of Follow-upOphthalmologyVol. 129Issue 12PreviewTo describe postoperative complications encountered in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study during 5 years of follow-up. Full-Text PDF ReplyOphthalmologyVol. 130Issue 7PreviewWe thank Drs de Waard and Wubbels for their interest in our companion articles reporting 5-year results from the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study.1,2 Islamaj et al3,4 previously published findings from a single-center randomized clinical trial that shared many design features with the PTVT Study. Both studies found that trabeculectomy with mitomycin C and Baerveldt implantation produced similar intraocular pressures after 5 years of follow-up, but fewer glaucoma medications were required after trabeculectomy. Full-Text PDF