Randomized Comparison of 1-Site and 2-Site Phacotrabeculectomy with 3-Year Follow-up

PURPOSE

To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) control and other clinical outcomes after 1-site fornix-based and 2-site limbus-based phacotrabeculectomy.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 90 eyes of 76 patients with cataract and glaucoma were treated.

METHODS

Forty-four eyes were assigned randomly to receive a 1-site phacotrabeculectomy with a fornix-based conjunctival flap, and 46 eyes were assigned randomly to receive a 2-site phacotrabeculectomy with a limbus-based conjunctival flap. All operations were performed with mitomycin C.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intraocular pressure and number of antiglaucoma medications were recorded at baseline and during a 3-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

Mean preoperative IOP was 20.1+/-3.8 mmHg in the 1-site group and 19.5+/-5.3 mmHg in the 2-site group (P = 0.56) using a mean of 2.3+/-0.9 and 2.5+/-0.9 antiglaucoma medications, respectively (P = 0.27). After 3 years of follow-up, the mean IOP was 12.6+/-4.8 mmHg in the 1-site group and 11.7+/-4.0 mmHg in the 2-site group (P = 0.40), receiving a mean of 0.3+/-0.7 and 0.4+/-0.9 medications, respectively (P = 0.59). At the end of the study, 73% of 1-site eyes and 78.4% of 2-site eyes had IOPs of less than 18 mmHg while receiving no antiglaucoma medications (P = 0.59). Visual acuity was similar for both groups at 3 months after surgery. There were no significant differences in the need for digital pressure, postoperative bleb needling with 5-fluorouracil, or number of postoperative visits. There were 2 major complications in each group during follow-up. Early leaks of the conjunctival wound closure occurred in 6 eyes in the 1-site group and in 0 eyes in the 2-site group (P = 0.03). Operating time (in minutes) was less in the 1-site surgery group (P<0.0001). Day one postoperative IOP was higher in the 2-site group (P = 0.0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

One-site fornix-based and 2-site limbus-based phacotrabeculectomy were similarly effective in lowering IOP and reducing the need for antiglaucoma medications over a 3-year follow-up period.

Combined surgery in the treatment of patients with cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma

The literature on combined surgery in the treatment of patients with cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma was comprehensively studied, and all aspects and variations of the combined procedure were assessed. Phacoemulsification has improved the success rate and reduced the complication rate previously associated with extracapsular cataract extraction combined with trabeculectomy. A mean reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) of 5 to 8 mm Hg can be achieved. One- and 2-site techniques appear to be similarly effective. Phacotrabeculectomy augmented with mitomycin-C achieves a lower IOP than phacotrabeculectomy alone but has a higher complication rate. The use of 5-fluorouracil is not as effective as mitomycin-C and has a variable influence on the results. The development of new techniques that combine nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery with phacoemulsification offers interesting surgical alternatives, but no long-term results have been reported.