Comparison of Cataract Surgery Alone Versus Cataract Surgery Combined With Trabeculectomy in the Management of Phacomorphic Glaucoma.

PURPOSE To compare the outcomes of cataract surgery alone versus combined cataract surgery with trabeculectomy in eyes with phacomorphic glaucoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a retrospective comparative case series, 126 eyes of phacomorphic glaucoma presenting within 4 weeks of onset between 1993 and 2012, with at least 6 months of postoperative follow-up were included. Group 1 included 63 eyes with cataract surgery only and group 2 included 63 eyes with combined cataract surgery and trabeculectomy. Primary outcome measure was intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mm Hg (without antiglaucoma medication) 6 months after surgery. RESULTS The median (interquartile range) preoperative IOP in group 1 was 36 mm Hg (30 to 50 mm Hg) and group 2 was 40 mm Hg (32 to 48 mm Hg) (P=0.34). The median duration of phacomorphic attack was 7 days (3 to 12 d) in group 1 and 7 days (3 to 15 d) in group 2 (P=0.39). The median duration of postoperative follow-up was 23 months in group 1 and 30 months in group 2 (P=0.89). Six months after surgery, 97% of the eyes in group 1 and 100% in group 2 achieved IOP≤21 mm Hg without antiglaucoma medications with a median postoperative IOP of 12 mm Hg in both the groups (P=0.09). The median Log MAR visual acuity was significantly better in group 1 compared with group 2 (0.2 vs. 0.3, P<0.001). The percentage of eyes that achieved visual acuity better than 20/40 at 3 months was 62% in group 1 versus 19% in group 2 and at 6 months it was 75% in group 1 versus 38% in group 2 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In our cohort of phacomorphic glaucoma presenting within 4 weeks of onset, cataract surgery and combined surgery resulted in similar IOP control at 6 months. However, cataract surgery alone resulted in better and faster visual recovery.