AIM: To compare the safety and effectiveness of pars plane filtering(PPF)and trabeculectomy(TRA)on neovascular glaucoma(NVG).

METHODS: This retrospective comparison was done in 12 patients(one eye with NVG in each)who were treated with PPF surgery and 15 patients who were treated during the same period with TRA, one eye was treated in each patient. Intraocular pressure(IOP), complete surgical success rate, peripheral anterior chamber depth(PACD), postoperative anterior chamber morphology, visual acuity and complications were observed and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The IOP was significantly reduced at each time point after the surgery 1, 3d, 1wk, 1, 3mo after operation(P<0.05), and there was no significant between-group difference at any time point(P >0.05). The rate of complete success observed 3mo after operation was superior in PPF group(92% vs 53%, P<0.05). PACD was found to be deeper at 1wk after the operation in PPF group as compared with the values before the operation and was deeper than that in TRA group(P<0.05); while this comparison in TRA group showed no significant change(P>0.05). After the operation, the anterior chamber angle was open and the anterior chamber was deepened in PPF group. No significant changes in visual acuity before and after the operation within each group and between groups were observed 3mo after the surgery(P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative hemorrhage in anterior chamber was lower in PPF group(8% vs 47%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Both PPF and TRA surgery can successfully control IOP of NVG. However, PPF surgery appeared to be superior as having a higher complete success rate. In addition, PPF surgery makes the anterior chamber deeper and wider, and result in fewer severe postoperative complications.