Management of Different Subtypes of Primary Angle Closure with Phacoemulsification and Viscogoniosynechialysis

To retrospectively assess the effectiveness of combined phacoemulsification with viscogoniosynechialysis for patients with different subtypes of primary angle closure (PAC).

Forty-three eyes of 37 patients diagnosed with PAC (12 eyes), PAC with glaucoma (PACG, 20 eyes), and acute PAC (11 eyes) were treated with phacoemulsification and viscogoniosynechialysis between November 2010 and October 2012. Main outcome measures were anterior chamber depth (ACD), intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of IOP-lowering medication, extent of peripheral anterior synechia (PAS), and visual acuity preoperatively and one month postoperatively.

All operations were successfully accomplished and no intra-operative complications were observed. The ACD, IOP, PAS, and visual acuity were all significantly improved postoperatively, especially in the acute PAC group, which resulted in few glaucoma drugs being needed. The IOP was decreased into equal or less than 21 mmHg in most patients postoperatively, except four patients had IOP slightly higher than 21 mmHg. However, they were restored to normal spontaneously or by medication at last follow-up. The extent of PAS was all reduced to less than 90 or 180°, with the visual acuity restored to more than 0.1.

Combined phacoemulsification with viscogoniosynechialysis seems to be an effective surgical procedure in the treatment of various subtypes of PAC.