The effect of colchicine on fibroblast proliferation after glaucoma filtering surgery

Failure of a glaucoma filtering surgery mainly results from scarring at thefiltering wound. Postoperative proliferation of fibroblasts plays an imrortant role in scar tissue formation. Colchicine is a cytoplasmic microtubule inhibitor capable of inhibiting fibroblast proliferation. The effect of colchicine on fibroblast proliferation at the filtering wound after filtering surgery was investigated. Posterior lip sclerectomies were performed in each eye of albino rabbits. Intraocular pressures, conjunctival fibrosis, histologic findings and drug tox-icities were examined postoperatively under the topical or oral administration of colchicine.