[Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy combined with phacoemulsification. Results and complications]

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of phaco-deep nonpenetrating sclerectomy (PDNS) with reticulated hyaluronic acid implant for glaucoma combined surgery.

Noncomparative retrospective study of 39 eyes of 36 patients who underwent PDNS. Preoperative and 1, 7 days, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery data retrieved were best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications and intra and postoperative complications.

Mean preoperative IOP was 23.1 mm Hg (SD: 8.8). Statistically significant reduction in IOP was observed in all postoperative visits (P = 0.000); a mean IOP reduction of 8.63 mm Hg (SD: 8.55) and 6.88 mm Hg (SD: 5.46) was found 6 and 12 months after surgery respectively. Mean percentage of IOP reduction was 32.78% (SD: 21.30) and 27.74% (SD: 18.15) six and twelve months after surgery respectively. Mean preoperative number of glaucoma medications was 1.76 (SD: 0.85). In all postoperative visits a statistically significant reduction in the number of glaucoma medications was observed (P = 0.000). One year after PDNS, mean number of antiglaucoma drugs was 0.34 (SD: 0.60), and 71.9% of the eyes did not need any glaucoma medication. Predetermined target IOP was achieved in 84.2% of the eyes. A gain of almost 3 lines of mean VA was observed one year after surgery. Severe inflammatory reaction (7.7%) and hyphema (5.1%) were the most frequent observed complications.

These preliminary results suggest that PDNS could be a safe and effective surgical technique for combining glaucoma and cataract surgery.