Effect of phacoemulsification on the primary open angle glaucoma control after trabeculectomy: a case‐control study

Abstract Purpose In this retrospective and comparative study, we analyzed the influence of phacoemulsification (PE) on the glaucoma control in case patients (trabeculectomy‐phacoemulsification [CE]) compared with the control that underwent trabeculectomy (T) alone in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods Twenty one patients who underwent PE subsequent to T were identified, and 41 who underwent T alone were matched. Visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb appearance, vertical cup disc ratio (VCDR), visual field (VF), glaucoma medications, iris manipulation and complications were documented. Mean follow up was 12 months. Success was defined when IOP ≤ 21 mmHg with the abscense of glaucoma medication and/or further surgical intervention. Results Patients in CE group had no significant change in IOP from pre‐operative measures to 12 months post‐operative (p=0.001). The mean IOP reduced from 15.3 mm Hg to 14.7 mmHg postoperatively. The control group showed an average IOP reduction of 6 mm Hg in the last visit. In CE group, 19% required 1 or 2 glaucoma medications at one year fellow‐up vs 19.5% in the control group. In CE group 9.5% showed flattening of previously formed bleb in the last visit (P<0.001), 9.7 % ended with flat bleb in the T group. The increase in VCDR for the CE group was statistically significant when compared to the control group (p<0.001). Patients in CE group were more likely to exhibit a change in VF (47.6% versus 7.3% respectively). The study is limited by the small number of cases available. Conclusion Corneal PE in eyes with filtering blebs does not adversely affect long‐term glaucoma control in patients with POAG.