The Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study: Methodology of a Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Tube Shunt Surgery and Trabeculectomy with Mitomycin C.

PURPOSE

To describe the methodology of the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study.

DESIGN

Multicenter randomized clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with medically uncontrolled glaucoma and no prior incisional ocular surgery.

METHODS

Patients are being enrolled at 16 clinical centers and randomly assigned to treatment with a tube shunt (350-mmBaerveldt glaucoma implant) or trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (0.4 mg/ml for 2 minutes).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure is the rate of surgical failure, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) more than 21 mmHg or reduced by less than 20% from baseline, IOP of 5 mmHg or less, reoperation for glaucoma, or loss of light perception vision. Secondary outcome measures include IOP, glaucoma medical therapy, visual acuity, visual fields, and surgical complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Practice patterns vary in the surgical management of glaucoma, and opinions differ among surgeons regarding the preferred primary operation for glaucoma. The PTVT Study will provide valuable information comparing the 2 most commonly performed glaucoma surgical procedures.