The efficacy of adjunctive mitomycin C and/or anti-VEGF agents on glaucoma tube shunt drainage device surgeries: a systematic review

The effectiveness of mitomycin C (MMC) in trabeculectomy has long been established. The aim of this review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive agents in tube shunt drainage device surgery for glaucoma or ocular hypertension, since controversy still exists regarding their benefit. We searched CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and BASE for RCTs, which have used adjuvant antimetabolites—either MMC or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)—and/or anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) agents. The main outcome was IOP reduction at 12 months. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria. Nine used the Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) implant, while the double-plate Molteno implant was used in one study. Four studies used MMC. The remaining six studies used an anti-VEGF drug – either bevacizumab, ranibizumab or conbercept. Only one MMC-study reported a significant difference in the IOP reduction between groups at 12 months, favouring the MMC group (55