Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of Phacogoniosynechialysis With Phacotrabeculectomy in the Management of Refractory Acute Primary Closure Angle Glaucoma With Cataract: A Multicenter Randomized Trial

Comparison of Long-Term Effects Following Phacoemulsification Combined with Goniosynechialysis and Trabeculectomy in Patients with Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma and Cataract

INTRODUCTION

Goniosynechialysis (Phaco-GSL) is a logical therapeutic approach for patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and cataract. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term effectiveness and safety of Phaco-GSL and trabeculectomy (TRB) in the management of PACG with coexisting cataract.

METHODS

A review was conducted on 96 Chinese patients (96 eyes) with PACG and cataract from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). Among them, 56 patients underwent Phaco-GSL, while 40 underwent TRB. Intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), use of supplemental antiglaucoma medical therapy, surgery success rates, and complications for both procedures were assessed.

RESULTS

The average follow-up period was 50.3 ± 18.7 months in the Phaco-GSL group and 61.2 ± 15.1 months in the TRB group. At the final follow-up, IOP decreased from 27.0 ± 11.1 mmHg to 13.5 ± 2.1 mmHg in the Phaco-GSL group and in the TRB group IOP decreased from 27.1 ± 7.7 mmHg to 16.5 ± 5.5 mmHg. The long-term postoperative IOP in the Phaco-GSL group was significantly lower than that in the TRB group. There was a statistically significant reduction in medication usage in both groups, with the TRB group having a higher number of postoperative medications at the final follow-up. The incidence of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the TRB group compared to the Phaco-GSL group.

CONCLUSIONS

Phaco-GSL is the recommended surgical approach for Chinese patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and cataract. Compared to traditional TRB, eyes undergoing Phaco-GSL show a reduced requirement for antiglaucomatous medications, improved management of IOP, decreased risk of complications, and higher long-term cumulative probability of treatment success for patients with PACG.

The surgical management of glaucoma: A review

After a long period of little change, glaucoma surgery has experienced a dramatic rise in the number of possible procedures in the last two decades. Glaucoma filtering surgeries with mitomycin C and glaucoma drainage devices remain the standard of surgical care. Other newer surgeries, some of which are minimally or microinvasive glaucoma surgeries, target existing trabecular outflow, enhance suprachoroidal outflow, create subconjunctival blebs, or reduce aqueous production. Some require the implantation of a device such as the iStent, Hydrus, Ex-PRESS, XEN and PRESERFLO, whilst others do not-Trabectome, Kahook dual blade, Ab interno canaloplasty, gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy, OMNI and excimer laser trabeculotomy. Others are a less destructive variation of an established procedure, such as micropulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation and ultrasound cycloplasty. Cataract surgery alone can be a significant glaucoma operation. These older and newer glaucoma surgeries, their mechanism of action, efficacy and complications are the subject of this review.

Effective treatment for secondary angle-closure glaucoma caused by traumatic lens subluxation: phacoemulsification with capsular-tension-ring implantation combined with ophthalmic endoscope-controlled goniosynechialysis

AIM

To investigate the safety and efficacy of phacoemulsification with capsular-tension-ring implantation and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation combined with ophthalmic endoscope-controlled goniosynechialysis (Phaco-CTR-IOL-OE-GSL) for treating secondary angle-closure glaucoma induced by traumatic lens subluxation.

METHODS

A retrospective and descriptive study was performed on patients with lens subluxation, angle closure, goniosynechia, and evaluated intraocular pressure (IOP) that cannot be controlled with medication, who underwent Phaco-CTR-IOL-OE-GSL. The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOP, range of goniosynechia and complications were retrospectively observed.

RESULTS

Nine patients with secondary angle-closure glaucoma induced by traumatic lens subluxation were included. The follow-up period was 51.1±8.6mo. The preoperative range of zonule rupture was 158.2°±33.0°, and the range of goniosynechia was 220.0°±92.5°. The baseline BCVA was 0.9±1.0 logMAR, IOP was 30.7±17.3 mm Hg, and number of anti-glaucoma medication was 3.2±1.1. Mild intraoperative hyphaemia with 8 eyes (88.8%) in the anterior chamber, and was absorbed two days postoperatively. One eye (11.1%) had postoperative ciliary body detachment and was recovered after five days of topical drug treatment. BCVA was 0.2±0.2 logMAR at 3mo postoperatively. The average IOP at the last follow-up was 16.7±2.0 mm Hg, and no anti-glaucoma medications were used. The average range of recurrent goniosynechia was 54.9°±33° at the final postoperative gonioscopic examination.

CONCLUSION

Phaco-CTR-IOL-OE-GSL is safe and effective in the treatment of secondary angle-closure glaucoma induced by traumatic lens subluxation. The use of an endoscope provides a more direct and clear examination for GSL, and 360° dissection is easily achieved.