Phacoviscocanalostomy versus phacotrabeculectomy to treat glaucoma associated with cataracts: a meta-analysis

To compare the effectiveness and safety of phacoviscocanalostomy and phacotrabeculectomy in treating combined glaucoma and cataracts.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials or observational studies comparing phacotrabeculectomy to phacoviscocanalostomy in patients with glaucoma and cataracts. Statistical analysis was used to compare the efficacy (intraocular pressure reduction, mean deviation of the visual field, and failure rates) and safety (general complication rate and rates of hyphema, hypotony, perforation, and intraocular pressure spikes) between the two procedures.

The study included 331 eyes from one randomized controlled trial and two non-randomized controlled trials, with 154 undergoing phacoviscocanalostomy and 177 undergoing phacotrabeculectomy. The results indicated no significant differences in surgical failure rates, mean deviation of the visual field, and intraocular pressure at one, three, six, and twelve months between the phacoviscocanalostomy and phacotrabeculectomy groups. Furthermore, although the overall complication rate between the two procedures showed no difference, the rate of intraocular pressure spikes was higher in patients who underwent phacoviscocanalostomy.

Phacotrabeculectomy and phacoviscocanalostomy are effective treatments for glaucoma and cataracts.Prospero database registration: (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero) under ID CRD42024502391.