Comparison of 2 surgical techniques in phacotrabeculectomy: 1 site versus 2 sites

To compare 1-site and 2-site phacotrabeculectomies with regard to visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) control, antiglaucoma medication requirements, and postoperative complications.

In a randomized controlled trial, 169 eyes with coexisting visually significant cataract and glaucoma were randomly allocated into 2 groups: eyes that had a trabeculectomy in a superior quadrant combined with phacoemulsification through the same incision (1-site group; n=85) or those with a separate, temporal, clear corneal incision for phacoemulsification (2-site group; n=84). Postoperative evaluation, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma medication requirements, and surgical complications, was for up to 18 months.

After 18 months, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to visual acuity and antiglaucoma medication requirements. There was a 0.6 to 1.4 mmHg difference in mean IOP, with the 2-site technique demonstrating statistically significant advantage over the 1-site technique in some follow-up visits with nonparametric analysis; however, the difference cannot be clinically significant. Success rates (IOP<21 mmHg with the maximum use of medication) of 1-site and 2-site groups were 85.9% and 92.8%, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p=0.153). Nevertheless, the incidence of failure in the 1-site group was almost twice that of the 2-site group (12 vs 6). Postoperative complications were comparable in both groups.

Results for 18-month follow-ups of 1-site and 2-site phacotrabeculectomies were comparable in terms of visual acuity, antiglaucoma medication requirements, and postoperative complications. While lowering of IOP was more pronounced in the 2-site group, this was not clinically significant.