Phacoemulsification versus Combined Phacotrabeculectomy in Medically Uncontrolled Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma with Cataracts

Abstract

Objective: To compare phacoemulsification alone versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically uncontrolled chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract. Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Participants: Fifty-one medically uncontrolled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract of 51 patients. Intervention: Recruited patients were randomized into group 1 (phacoemulsification alone) or group 2 (combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C). Postoperatively, patients were reviewed every 3 months for 2 years. Main Outcome Measures: Intraocular pressure (IOP) and requirement for topical glaucoma drugs. Results: Twenty-seven CACG eyes were randomized into group 1, and 24 CACG eyes were randomized into group 2. Combined phacotrabeculectomy resulted in lower mean postoperative IOP than phacoemulsification alone at 3 months (14.0 vs. 17.0 mmHg, P = 0.01), 15 months (13.2 vs. 15.4 mmHg, P = 0.02), and 18 months (13.6 vs. 15.9 mmHg, P = 0.01). Combined phacotrabeculectomy resulted in 1.25 fewer topical glaucoma drugs (P<0.001) in the 24-month postoperative period, compared with phacoemulsification alone. Combined surgery was associated with more postoperative complications (P<0.001) and more progression of optic neuropathy (P = 0.03), compared with phacoemulsification alone. Conclusions: Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C is more effective than phacoemulsification alone in controlling IOP in medically uncontrolled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Combined phacotrabeculectomy is associated with more postoperative complications. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. © 2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology.