Comparing Outcomes of Phacoemulsification and Endocyclophotocoagulation with Either Dual Blade Goniotomy (PEcK) or...

To compare outcomes of phacoemulsification and endocyclophotocoagulation with either dual blade goniotomy (PEcK) or two trabecular stents (ICE2).

Retrospective, nonrandomized comparative study from a level 3 triage center.

One hundred and seventy charts and a total of 1294 visits were reviewed following either PEcK or ICE2 from 2018 to 2022. One hundred and twenty-eight patients had PEcK and 42 underwent ICE2. Patients with less than 30 days of follow-up were excluded. The mean follow-up time was 505 ± 308 days. Two Kaplan-Meier curves (KM) assessed survival with ≤ baseline medications while maintaining (1) [GIC - Goal IOP Criteria] IOP ≤ goal IOP or (2) [PRC - Percent Reduction Criteria] IOP reduction ≥ 20% with 5 mmHg ≤ IOP ≤ 21 mmHg for at least two consecutive visits. IOP and medication burden reduction were compared using a paired t-test.

Most patients were Caucasian (65%) and had mild-stage glaucoma (43%). The most common glaucoma type was primary open-angle glaucoma (58%). Average age was 72.2 years at the time of surgery. Mean preoperative IOP was 17.58 ± 4.98 mmHg on 3.00 ± 1.41 medications in PEcK and 15.36 ± 3.58 mmHg on 1.81 ± 1.11 medications in ICE2 (p = 0.015 for IOP; p < 0.001 for medications). Under GIC, the success rate was significantly higher in PEcK at POM6 (69% vs 46%, p < 0.001) and POY1 (63% vs 36%, p < 0.001). Under PRC, the success rate was significantly higher in PEcK at POM6 (73% vs 61%, p = 0.031) and POY1 (67% vs 50%, p = 0.028). Mean reductions at POY1 were 5.00 ± 4.31 mmHg on 1.35 ± 1.08 less medications after PEcK and 3.14 ± 2.83 mmHg on 1.01 ± 0.94 less medications after ICE2 (p < 0.001 at POY1 for IOP; p < 0.05 after POW6 for medications).

Both PEcK and ICE2 reduce medication and IOP from baseline, with PEcK having more favorable GIC and PRC success rates and greater IOP and medication reduction at 1 year.