Viscogonioplasty in narrow angle glaucoma: a randomized controlled trial

To determine the effect of viscogonioplasty and cataract extraction on intraocular pressure in patients with narrow angle glaucoma.

This was a double-masked randomized controlled trial involving 50 eyes (25 cases and 25 controls) from 38 consecutive patients. All patients underwent phacoemulsification with or without viscogonioplasty. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure post-treatment and number of glaucoma medications post-treatment.

Cases had a greater reduction in intraocular pressure than controls, with a mean intraocular pressure (standard deviation) at 12 months of 13.7 (±2.89) mmHg compared with 16.2 (±3.55) mmHg in controls (P = 0.009). Cases had a greater reduction in mean number of antiglaucoma medications than controls at 12-month review, with 13 of 25 eyes (52%) of cases controlled without any antiglaucoma therapy versus 9 of 25 (36%) of the controls (P = 0.005).

Viscogonioplasty combined with cataract extraction has a significantly greater effect than cataract extraction alone on lowering intraocular pressure in patients with poorly controlled narrow angle glaucoma and should therefore be considered as a treatment option for patients with this condition.