Effect of Cataract Surgery through Clear Corneal Incision in Glaucomatous Eyes with Filtering Blebs

ABSTRACT

The small-incision cataract surgery by phacoemulsification with foldable posterior chamber lens implantation have recently permitted new options for combined trabeculectomy with cataract extraction. In the present study, we performed phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation using small clear corneal incision in 20 patients with 22 glaucomatous eyes who had previously undergone trabeculectomy and determined its effects on visual acuity, intraocular pressure, the number of medications applied, and status of the filtering blebs. The mean follow-up period was 10.1 months and the mean time interval between the two surgeries was 14.7 months. The mean best corrected visual acuity was 0.19 preoperatively and 0.60 postoperatively and the postoperative visual acuity had improved in 19 eyes(86.4%). The mean(+/-standard deviation, SD) preoperative IOP was 16.7+/-5.88 mmHg and the mean(+/-SD) postoperative IOP at final visit was 15.5+/-4.07 mmHg. Postoperatively, the IOPs remained well controlled in 20 eyes(90.9%) without additional ocular hypotensives and required additional medications for control in 2 eyes(9.09%). And the funictioning bleb failures occurred in 5 eyes(22.7%). We found the procedure to be effective in restoring vision while controlling intraoperative pressure and preserving the filtering blebs.