Clinical Results of Sutureless Phacotrabeculectomy

ABSTRACT

We performed the prospective study on the clinical result of sutureless phacotrabeculectomy using 3.0mm ~ 6.5mm self-sealing scleral tunnel incision. This study included 9 eyes of 8 patients who have been suffering from chronic angle-closure glaucoma or chronic open-angle glaucoma with coexisting cataract. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure(IOP) was 28.55mmHg and mean postoperative IOP was 15.55mmHg. The IOP maintained below 19mmHg in all cases after 6 months. The number of medications decreased from 1.77 preoperatively to 0.33 postoperatively. No medication needed in 7 eyes postoperatively. The mean preoperative cup-disc ratio was 0.64. Visual acuity improved in 8 eyes and 5 eyes recovered to 20/40 or better. The blebs were visible in 8 cases which shows low diffuse in character in most cases. Postoperative complications were hypotony in 5 cases, hyphema in 1 case, partial posterior capsular rupture in 1 case and posterior capsular opacification in 1 case respectively. This result suggests that sutureless phacotrabeculectomy may be performed as safe and effective combined procedure in the management of coexisting cataract and glaucoma.