George J C Jin1, Alan S Crandall, Jason J Jones. 1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107, USA. georgejin@hotmail.com
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and progress after phacotrabeculectomy at the same clinical setting and/or performed by the same surgeon over the past decade. SETTING: Eye Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. METHODS: This retrospective study included 60 eyes of 43 patients who had phacotrabeculectomy at a single institute between 1999 and 2005. A modified phacotrabeculectomy surgical technique was used that included a 2-site incision approach, fornix-based flap, use of mitomycin-C, acrylic intraocular lens implantation, sutured scleral and conjunctival flaps, and sutured temporal clear corneal incision. RESULTS: Over a mean 30-month follow-up, 57 of the 60 eyes (95%) achieved intraocular pressure (IOP) control (<or=21 mm Hg) with or without medication. Thirty eyes (50%) had an IOP of 15 mm Hg or lower, and 34 (57%) had an IOP reduction of at least 30%. The IOP decreased from a preoperative mean of 23.1 mm Hg on a mean number of 1.67 glaucoma medications to a mean of 14.9 mm Hg on a mean of 0.23 medication at the final follow-up (P<.001 for IOP decrease and for reduction in number of medications). Fifty-two eyes (87%) obtained a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Dysesthetic blebs requiring surgical revision and bleb hemorrhage (each occurring in 2 eyes, 3.3%) were seen in this study, but not previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical technique used in this study appears to be effective and superior to a previous technique at restoring visual acuity, lowering IOP, and reducing the postoperative complication rate. The observations are relevant in the context of improvements of technique over the past decade.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes and progress after phacotrabeculectomy at the same clinical setting and/or performed by the same surgeon over the past decade. SETTING: Eye Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. METHODS: This retrospective study included 60 eyes of 43 patients who had phacotrabeculectomy at a single institute between 1999 and 2005. A modified phacotrabeculectomy surgical technique was used that included a 2-site incision approach, fornix-based flap, use of mitomycin-C, acrylic intraocular lens implantation, sutured scleral and conjunctival flaps, and sutured temporal clear corneal incision. RESULTS: Over a mean 30-month follow-up, 57 of the 60 eyes (95%) achieved intraocular pressure (IOP) control (<or=21 mm Hg) with or without medication. Thirty eyes (50%) had an IOP of 15 mm Hg or lower, and 34 (57%) had an IOP reduction of at least 30%. The IOP decreased from a preoperative mean of 23.1 mm Hg on a mean number of 1.67 glaucoma medications to a mean of 14.9 mm Hg on a mean of 0.23 medication at the final follow-up (P<.001 for IOP decrease and for reduction in number of medications). Fifty-two eyes (87%) obtained a best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Dysesthetic blebs requiring surgical revision and bleb hemorrhage (each occurring in 2 eyes, 3.3%) were seen in this study, but not previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical technique used in this study appears to be effective and superior to a previous technique at restoring visual acuity, lowering IOP, and reducing the postoperative complication rate. The observations are relevant in the context of improvements of technique over the past decade.