RESEARCH ARTICLE
Surgical Outcome of Combined MicroPulse Transscleral Laser Therapy with Phaco Emulsification in Patients with Cataract and Glaucoma
Ahmed Al Habash1, *, Wael Otaif2
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2022Volume: 16
E-location ID: e187436412209260
Publisher ID: e187436412209260
DOI: 10.2174/18743641-v16-e2209260
Article History:
Received Date: 13/5/2022Revision Received Date: 5/7/2022
Acceptance Date: 17/8/2022
Electronic publication date: 21/11/2022
Collection year: 2022
open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Purpose:
To determine the effectiveness and safety of combined MicroPulse transscleral laser therapy (TLT) and phacoemulsification in patients with co-existing cataracts and glaucoma.
Methods:
A retrospective consecutive case series of 22 eyes of 19 patients with co-existing cataract and glaucoma. The patients underwent MicroPulse TLT, phacoemulsification, and intraocular lens implantation during the same setting. A comparison of baseline data with the data at 18 months follow-up was made to determine the variation in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and changes in the number of anti-glaucoma drugs.
Results:
Twenty-two eyes of 19 patients (57.9% were female) underwent combined MicroPulse TLT and phacoemulsification. The mean age was 60.5±9.3 years (range: 39.0 to 76.0). Nine eyes (40.9%) had primary open-angle glaucoma, nine eyes (40.9%) had chronic angle-closure glaucoma, and four eyes (18.2%) had pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. The mean baseline IOP was 26.3±4.7, which was significantly reduced to 15.3±2.4 mmHg (43.9%±10.2%) at 18 months (p<0.001). The median number of glaucoma medications was 4 (2 to 5) at baseline and 2 (0 to 4) at 18 months (p=0.002). The mean BCVA was 0.84±0.31 LogMAR (Snellen: 20/138) at baseline and 0.28±0.23 LogMAR (Snellen:20/38) at 18 months (p<0.001). The mean follow-up period was 15.8±3.0 months (range 12 to 18).
Conclusions:
Combined MicroPulse TLT and phacoemulsification was a safe and effective procedure that achieved reduction in both IOP and glaucoma medications for up to 18 months, with no associated vision-threatening complications.
