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Clinician: Phaco alone an effective option for some glaucoma patients
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SAN FRANCISCO — For those glaucoma patients with open-angle disease or pseudoexfoliation, phacoemulsification alone often adequately lowers pressure and improves vision, a glaucoma surgeon said here.
 Bradford J. Shingleton |
However, Bradford J. Shingleton, MD, emphasized that multiple factors must be accounted for when selecting the best treatment options for glaucoma patients. Significant factors include preoperative IOP, angle status and the continued need for medications after cataract surgery.
"When asked if phaco lowers IOP, I say, yes, it does. In fact, it is probably one of the most commonly performed glaucoma procedures in the world," he said at Glaucoma Day at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Dr. Shingleton, outgoing president of the ASCRS, presented results of various studies examining the impact of phaco on lowering IOP. Study results included 1,122 pseudoexfoliation eyes that underwent phaco alone that Dr. Shingleton and colleagues reviewed.
They found that at 7 years follow-up, all 1,122 eyes had a significant mean IOP drop of 1 mm Hg to 2 mm Hg. Patients also had good mean visual acuity results.