Three-millimeter versus 6-mm incisions in combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the results of phacoemulsification and combined trabeculectomy in subjects receiving either a 3- or a 6-mm scleral incision.


METHODS
The authors evaluated consecutive patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy with a 3-mm incision. These patients were individually matched by age, diagnosis, previous surgery, and race to those having a 6-mm incision.


RESULTS
The study found that 1 year following surgery, results were similar between the 3- and 6-mm incision groups for intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb height, bleb vascularity, number of glaucoma medicines, anterior chamber depth, visual acuity, spherical equivalent, cylinder, and axis (P > .05). No difference was observed between groups with the highest IOP within the first postoperative month (P > .05). Also, no marked differences in number of complications were noted between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that 3- and 6-mm incision phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy provide similar postoperative IOP control and visual acuity results.
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
W C
WC
Stewart
C S
CS
Sine
A N
AN
Carlson
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity