Long-term intraocular pressure change after clear corneal phacoemulsification in Thai glaucoma patients

To evaluate long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after sutureless clear corneal phacoemulsification in eyes with preoperatively controlled glaucoma.

Retrospective study.

Eye Clinic, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University.

The medical records of 218 patients who had uneventful sutureless clear corneal phacoemulsification with acrylic foldable lens (IOL) implantation were retrospectively reviewed. Included were 58 patients with medically controlled open-angle glaucoma and 160 normal controls. Follow-up was 12 to 18 months. Outcome measures were postoperative IOP and number of glaucoma medications.

Postoperatively, there was an insignificant decrease in IOP in the glaucoma group; the mean decrease was 1.4 mm Hg +/- 3.8 (SD) at 12 months and 1.6 +/- 4.2 mm Hg at 18 months. The mean number of medications decreased significantly at 12 months (0.51 +/- 0.75) and at 18 months (0.41 +/- 0.83) (P = .04). The control group also had a significant decrease in IOP, with a mean decrease of 0.83 +/- 2.8 mm Hg at 12 months (P = .01) and 1.26 +/- 2.9 mm Hg at 18 months (P < .0001). The decrease in IOP was more pronounced in eyes with a higher preoperative IOP in both the glaucoma and control groups.

These findings suggest that sutureless clear corneal phacoemulsification with foldable acrylic IOL implantation is a relatively safe and simple surgical option in patients with cataract and well-controlled glaucoma. The approach provided favorable long-term IOP change and led to rapid visual rehabilitation in both the glaucoma and control group.