Effect of Goniosynechialysis During Phacoemulsification on IOP in Patients With Medically Well-controlled Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma :

To evaluate combined phacoemulsification, posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation, and goniosynechialysis (phaco-GSL) prospectively in eyes with more than 180 degrees of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) and uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) when performed within 6 months of an attack of acute angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). Prospective, noncontrolled clinical trial. Patients who had presented with acute ACG and had persistently uncontrolled IOP despite successful laser iridotomy for pupillary block and argon laser peripheral iridoplasty for continued appositional closure after iridotomy. After the completion of phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation, goniosynechialysis was performed in 52 eyes of 48 patients. Postoperative visual acuity, IOP, extent of PAS, and number of medications, if any, required for IOP control. Intraocular pressure was less than 20 mmHg in 47 eyes (90.4%) without medications; 4 were controlled with medications and 1 required filtration. Mean extent of PAS was reduced from 310 degrees to 60 degrees. Peripheral anterior synechiae formation or IOP elevation did not recur after 3 months after surgery up to 6 years. Eight patients achieved 20/20 visual acuity, while 44 patients had less than 20/20 visual acuity. No patient had worse visual acuity after surgery compared to before surgery. Phaco-GSL and PCIOL implantation is effective in reducing PAS and IOP and improving visual acuity in eyes with persistent chronic ACG when performed within 6 months after treatment for acute ACG.

To compare phacoemulsification alone versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically controlled chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract. Randomized clinical trial. Seventy-two medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Recruited patients were randomized into group 1 (phacoemulsification alone) or group 2 (combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C). Postoperatively, patients were reviewed every 3 months for 2 years. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and requirement for topical glaucoma drugs. Thirty-five CACG eyes were randomized into group 1, and 37 CACG eyes were randomized into group 2. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in mean IOP between the 2 treatment groups preoperatively and postoperatively, except at 1 month (P = 0.001) and 3 months (P = 0.008). Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C resulted in 0.80 less topical glaucoma drugs (P<0.001) in the 24-month postoperative period compared with phacoemulsification alone. The differences in IOP control were, however, not associated with differences in glaucomatous progression. Combined surgery was associated with more postoperative (P<0.001) complications compared with phacoemulsification alone. Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C may be marginally more effective than phacoemulsification alone in controlling IOP in medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Combined surgery may be associated with more complications and additional surgery in the postoperative period. Further study is needed to determine whether the marginally better IOP control of combined surgery justifies the potential additional risks of complications and further surgery. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

To evaluate the effectiveness of phacoemulsification and goniosynechialysis (PEGS) in managing acute and subacute primary angle closure unresponsive to conventional therapy. Retrospective series of patients of six glaucoma-trained surgeons with primary angle closure that did not respond to medical management, Nd:YAG laser peripheral iridotomy, or argon laser peripheral iridoplasty. A total of twenty-one patients with an average age of 65.6 years were included. Underlying mechanism of angle closure included pupillary block (n = 18) and plateau iris (n = 3). Average intraocular pressure (IOP) immediately prior to PEGS was 40.7 mm Hg, and mean follow-up time after PEGS was 11.7 months. PEGS decreased mean IOP by 25 mm Hg (62%), and mean number of medications from 3.8 pre-surgery to 1.7 post-surgery (55%). Mean LogMar visual acuity improved after PEGS, from 0.64 to 0.44 (Paired t test t = 4.120 P = 0.001). Subsequent trabeculectomy was necessary in one case (5%). Phacoemulsification with goniosynechialysis may be an effective treatment option for primary angle closure unresponsive to conventional therapy.