September 17, 2008
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Performing angle viscodissection with phaco surgery reduces IOP in glaucoma patients

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BERLIN — The addition of viscodissection during phacoemulsification can help significantly reduce IOP and medications in narrow-angle and angle-closure glaucoma patients while maintaining good visual outcomes, an 8-year study found.

"Any ophthalmologist can perform this extra step," Peter Cikatricis, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting here. "There's no learning curve and no special extra equipment."

Dr. Cikatricis and colleagues conducted a retrospective pilot study of glaucoma patients with cataract from 1999 to 2007. Patients were divided into two groups. Group one consisted of 49 eyes of 37 patients, and group two was composed of 35 eyes of 26 patients.

Patients in group one underwent standard clear corneal temporal incision phaco, while patients in group two underwent phaco and viscodissection. A control group of 14 eyes of 11 patients underwent phaco alone.

The study found that group two had significantly lower IOP than group one at all follow-up times, Dr. Cikatricis said. Group two also had significantly lower postop medication usage.