Uncomplicated phaco shows no significant long-term IOP-lowering effect, study finds

Among patients with ocular hypertensive and open-angle glaucoma, uncomplicated phacoemulsification had no significant IOP-lowering effect compared with the phakic fellow eye during 3 years of follow-up, according to a study.

The retrospective, comparative case series examined medical records of 29 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had had unilateral phacoemulsification while the fellow eye remained phakic for at least 3 years postop.

Preoperatively, mean IOP was 15.66 mm Hg in operated eyes and 15.64 mm Hg in fellow eyes. Postoperatively, IOP was 13.56 mm Hg in operated eyes and 14.92 mm Hg in fellow eyes at 4.5 months; 14.88 mm Hg and 15.27 mm Hg, respectively, at 1 year; 14.16 mm Hg and 14.95 mm Hg, respectively, at 2 years; and 14.68 mm Hg and 14.68 mm Hg, respectively, at 3 years.

No difference was observed in the mean number of IOP-lowering medications used in the operated and fellow eyes.

“This finding may support the drive to develop effective minimally invasive pressure-lowering procedures to be performed concurrently with phacoemulsification that have a better safety profile than combined phacoemulsification-trabeculectomy,” the study authors said.

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Source:

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2012;38(5):866-870.