The response of living tissues to the surgical trauma is associated with varying degrees of tissue repair and involves two distinct processes including replacement and regeneration. Replacement results in scar tissue formation instead of restoration of the normal architecture. However, regeneration leads to restoration of the original architecture leaving no sign of injury. Anti-proliferative agents are used to inhibit tissue responses to surgical trauma. Among them mitomycin- C and 5- FU had gained increasing applications in ophthalmic surgeries, including filtering glaucoma surgeries, laser vision correction with excimer laser by ablative surface refractive surgery, reconstructive surgeries for ocular surface disorders and removal of neoplastic tissues and secondary operations on nasolacrimal ducts. In this review article, the various aspects of applications of these agents including their mechanism of action, function, mode of application and complications in different ophthalmology fields are discussed.
