evaluation of the outcomes of one-site combined phacotrabeculectomy using sutureless tunnel technique without peripheral iridectomy in open angle glaucoma patients

purpose: to evaluate the results of one-site phacotrabeculectomy using sutureless tunnel technique without peripheral iridectomy (no-pi) in glaucoma patients with cataract methods: a retrospective study of cases which has been recorded of patients who have had one-site no-pi phacotrabeculectomy using sutureless tunnel technique. we collected pre- and postoperative data in all patients including best corrected visual acuity (bcva), intraocular pressure (iop) and the number of anti-glaucoma medications. surgical success was defined as the final iop<21 mmhg and ≥20% reduction from preoperative iop for criteria a, and final iop<18 mmhg and ≥30% reduction from baseline for criteria b. success was further divided into incomplete when anti-glaucoma medications were needed postoperatively and complete when no anti-glaucoma medications were used). results: forty eight eyes of 48 patients were recruited into the study. mean (sd) age of the patients was 70.1 (8.8) years. mean value of iop before surgery was 27.1 (sd=6.4), and it decreased significantly at all follow-up visits after surgery (p<0.001). at final follow-up, mean iop was 15.8 (sd=3.7) mmhg (p<0.001). mean number of anti-glaucoma medications decreased from 2.6 (sd=1.2) preoperatively to 0.7 (sd=1.4) at the last follow-up visit (p<0.001). mean logmar bcva improved from preoperative level of 0.97 to 0.33 at the final follow-up visit (p<0.001). for criteria a, qualified and complete success rates were 81.2% and 64.6%, and for criteria b these rates were 66.7% and 56.2%, respectively. conclusion: one-site no-pi sutureless tunnel phacotrabeculectomy leads to a significant reduction in iop and helps to improve visual acuity in glaucoma patients with cataract.  iranian journal of ophthalmology 201426(3):150-4 © 2014 by the iranian society of ophthalmology