Evaluation of the Outcomes of One-Site Combined Phacotrabeculectomy Using Sutureless Tunnel Technique Without Peripheral Iridectomy in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients

To evaluate the results of one-site phacotrabeculectomy using sutureless tunnel technique without peripheral iridectomy (no-PI) in glaucoma patients with cataract A retrospective study of cases which has been recorded of patients who have had one-site no-PI phacotrabeculectomy using sutureless tunnel technique. We collected pre- and postoperative data in all patients including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of anti-glaucoma medications. Surgical success was defined as the final IOP<21 mmHg and ≥20% reduction from preoperative IOP for criteria A, and final IOP<18 mmHg and ≥30% reduction from baseline for criteria B. Success was further divided into incomplete when anti-glaucoma medications were needed postoperatively and complete when no anti-glaucoma medications were used). Forty eight eyes of 48 patients were recruited into the study. Mean (SD) age of the patients was 70.1 (8.8) years. Mean value of IOP before surgery was 27.1 (SD=6.4), and it decreased significantly at all follow-up visits after surgery (p<0.001). At final follow-up, mean IOP was 15.8 (SD=3.7) mmHg (p<0.001). Mean number of anti-glaucoma medications decreased from 2.6 (SD=1.2) preoperatively to 0.7 (SD=1.4) at the last follow-up visit (p<0.001). Mean logMAR BCVA improved from preoperative level of 0.97 to 0.33 at the final follow-up visit (p<0.001). For criteria A, qualified and complete success rates were 81.2% and 64.6%, and for criteria B these rates were 66.7% and 56.2%, respectively. One-site no-PI sutureless tunnel phacotrabeculectomy leads to a significant reduction in IOP and helps to improve visual acuity in glaucoma patients with cataract.