Effectiveness and Safety of Phacotrabeculectomy by Two Ways

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of phacotrabeculectomy by two ways.

Methods: A preexperimental before-after study was conducted with 87 patients (87 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma treated with phacotrabeculectomy by two ways. The patients were analyzed according to demographic variables (age, sex, skin color), as well as the effects of surgery on visual acuity, intraocular pressure, number of medications, and complications.

Results: The mean age was 72.0 years, while distribution by sex was similar and patients with non-white skin color predominated. The median preoperative intraocular pressure and number of medications were 25.0 mmHg (RI: 22.0-30.0 mmHg) and 3.0 (RI: 3-3), respectively; while the postoperative (6 months) median pressure was 15.2 mmHg (RI: 13.2-17.2 mmHg) and number of medications was 0.0 (RI: 0.0-1.0). Complete success at six months was 62.8 %. Median uncorrected visual acuity passed from 0.30 (RI: 0, 10-0, 50) in the preoperative period to 0.80 (RI: 0, 50-1, 00) in the postoperative period. Complications were minimal, with cystoid macular edema being the most frequent.

Conclusions: Phacotrabeculectomy by two ways is effective in lowering intraocular pressure, reducing the number of medications, and achieving improvement in visual acuity. It can be considered safe due to the low frequency of complications.