Phacoemulsification Versus Combined Phacotrabeculectomy in Medically Controlled Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma with Cataract

Objective

To compare phacoemulsification alone versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically controlled chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract.

Design

Randomized clinical trial.

Participants

Seventy-two medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract.

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

Thirty-five CACG eyes were randomized into group 1, and 37 CACG eyes were randomized into group 2. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in mean IOP between the 2 treatment groups preoperatively and postoperatively, except at 1 month (P = 0.001) and 3 months (P = 0.008). Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C resulted in 0.80 less topical glaucoma drugs (P<0.001) in the 24-month postoperative period compared with phacoemulsification alone. The differences in IOP control were, however, not associated with differences in glaucomatous progression. Combined surgery was associated with more postoperative (P<0.001) complications compared with phacoemulsification alone.

Conclusions

Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C may be marginally more effective than phacoemulsification alone in controlling IOP in medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Combined surgery may be associated with more complications and additional surgery in the postoperative period. Further study is needed to determine whether the marginally better IOP control of combined surgery justifies the potential additional risks of complications and further surgery.

Financial Disclosure(s)

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.