Objective
To evaluate the effect of temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes that underwent prior trabeculectomy.
Design
Retrospective case-control study.
Patients
Forty consecutive patients who underwent temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification subsequent to trabeculectomy (trabeculectomy-phacoemulsification group) were identified, and 40 control patients who underwent trabeculectomy alone (trabeculectomy group) were matched to the case patients for length of follow-up, age, IOP, number of antiglaucoma medications, number of 5-fluorouracil injections, race, sex, and diagnosis.
Main Outcome Measures
Intraocular pressure before vs 1 year after phacoemulsification in the trabeculectomy-phacoemulsification group compared with IOP in the trabeculectomy group and survival analysis of IOP control after trabeculectomy in the 2 groups.
Results
In the trabeculectomy-phacoemulsification group, IOP 1 year after phacoemulsification was not significantly different from the prephacoemulsification IOP value (P=.65). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the rates of IOP control 3, 6, and 9 years after trabeculectomy in the trabeculectomy-phacoemulsification group were 80%, 66%, and 44%, respectively; in the trabeculectomy group, these were 79%, 69%, and 55%, respectively. These survival curves were not statistically different (P=.55).
Conclusion
Cataract surgery by temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification in eyes with filtering blebs after trabeculectomy does not adversely affect longterm IOP control.
