Phacoemulsification versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically controlled chronic angle closure glaucoma with cataract.

OBJECTIVE: To compare phacoemulsification alone versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically controlled chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. INTERVENTION: Recruited patients were randomized into group 1 (phacoemulsification alone) or group 2 (combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C). Postoperatively, patients were reviewed every 3 months for 2 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure (IOP) and requirement for topical glaucoma drugs. RESULTS: Thirty-five CACG eyes were randomized into group 1, and 37 CACG eyes were randomized into group 2. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in mean IOP between the 2 treatment groups preoperatively and postoperatively, except at 1 month (P = 0.001) and 3 months (P = 0.008). Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C resulted in 0.80 less topical glaucoma drugs (P<0.001) in the 24-month postoperative period compared with phacoemulsification alone. The differences in IOP control were, however, not associated with differences in glaucomatous progression. Combined surgery was associated with more postoperative (P<0.001) complications compared with phacoemulsification alone. CONCLUSIONS: Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C may be marginally more effective than phacoemulsification alone in controlling IOP in medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Combined surgery may be associated with more complications and additional surgery in the postoperative period. Further study is needed to determine whether the marginally better IOP control of combined surgery justifies the potential additional risks of complications and further surgery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Results of trabeculectomy with adjunctive intraoperative mitomycin C in Chinese patients with glaucoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the results of trabeculectomy with adjunctive intraoperative mitomycin C in Chinese patients with glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of Chinese patients who received trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin C from 1992 to 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. A "successful" trabeculectomy was defined as one after which the intraocular pressure (IOP) could be controlled to between 5 and 21 mm Hg, inclusive, with no more than 3 glaucoma medications. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen trabeculectomies in 105 eyes of 90 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Mean age +/- standard deviation was 48.1 +/- 21.9 years. Primary open-angle glaucoma (43.0%) and angle-closure glaucoma (27.2%) were the most common diagnoses leading to trabeculectomy. The mean follow-up +/- standard deviation was 29.6 +/- 18.6 months (range, 6 to 92 months). The overall success rate at the last follow-up was 73.7% (84 of 114 trabeculectomies). CONCLUSIONS: Trabeculectomy with mitomycin C is a safe and effective procedure for the control of IOP in Chinese patients with glaucoma.

Physical effects of reuse and repeated ethylene oxide sterilization on transscleral cyclophotocoagulation laser G-probes.

PURPOSE: The authors documented the physical effects of reuse and repeated ethylene oxide sterilization on transscleral cyclophotocoagulation laser G-probes. METHODS: Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation was performed using G-probes on fresh porcine eyes. Each of two G-probes was used for four transscleral cyclophotocoagulation procedures, with three cycles of ethylene oxide sterilization in between. The power output from the G-probes was measured by a laser output meter before and after each transscleral cyclophotocoagulation procedure. The G-probes were also examined under a slit lamp for signs of physical damage. RESULTS: Repeated use of the G-probe in transscleral cyclophotocoagulation, with ethylene oxide sterilization in between, resulted in an average decrease of 3% in laser energy delivered per repeated cycle of use up to the fourth cycle. No signs of physical damage were found. CONCLUSIONS: Laser G-probes remain functional after repeated use and ethylene oxide resterilization for up to four cycles. No visible physical damage to the probes was identified. It is safe and cost-effective to reuse G-probe for transscleral cyclophotocoagulation with ethylene oxide sterilization, provided the surgeon stays alert for signs of probe damage. This alertness should be retained regardless of whether new or old G-probes are used.

Laser peripheral iridoplasty as initial treatment of acute attack of primary angle-closure: a long-term follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To study the long-term clinical course and complications of patients with acute primary angle-closure treated with immediate laser peripheral iridoplasty followed by laser peripheral iridotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with acute primary angle closure treated with immediate laser peripheral iridoplasty, followed by laser peripheral iridotomy, at the Prince of Wales Hospital from July 1997 through January 2000 were followed up to document the clinical course of their disease and any complications from the laser treatment. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, gonioscopic findings, corneal and lens clarity, iris appearance, pupillary reaction, and progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty eyes of 29 Chinese patients with acute primary angle closure treated initially with either argon or diode laser peripheral iridoplasty were recruited. The mean follow-up period was 33.0 +/- 9.3 months. Twenty-one eyes (70%) had no further attack and maintained normal intraocular pressure without medications, and 9 eyes (30%) developed chronic angle-closure glaucoma with peripheral anterior synechiae. All eyes had pigmented laser marks on the peripheral iris, but none had peripheral corneal burn. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up data indicated that 30% of Chinese eyes with acute primary angle closure successfully treated with immediate laser peripheral iridoplasty followed by laser peripheral iridotomy developed peripheral anterior synechiae and an increase in intraocular pressure. There were minimal long-term complications on the cornea and the lens from the laser treatment.

Trabeculectomy with beta radiation: long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcome and complications of trabeculectomy with beta radiation. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three patients with confirmed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), who received trabeculectomy with adjunctive beta radiation at the Prince of Wales Hospital between June 1991 and November 1994. METHODS: Patients fulfilling the preceding criteria were followed up longitudinally. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb morphology, and complications were evaluated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity, IOP, bleb morphology, complications. RESULTS: Forty-three eyes of 43 consecutive Chinese patients were recruited and successfully followed up for a minimum of 7 years. The mean age +/- 1 standard deviation (SD) was 60.9 +/- 13.0 years. There were 29 males and 14 females. The mean baseline IOP +/- 1 SD was 28.3 +/- 5.8 mmHg. The mean postoperative IOP +/- 1 SD after the initial trabeculectomy was 11.9 +/- 4.3 mmHg, and the mean number of preoperative IOP-lowering eyedrops +/- 1 SD was reduced from 2.8 +/- 0.5 to 0.7 +/- 1.0 at 7 years follow-up. The qualified success rate at 7 years follow-up, defined as IOP

Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty versus conventional systemic medical therapy in treatment of acute primary angle-closure glaucoma : a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether argon laser peripheral iridoplasty (ALPI) is as effective and safe as conventional systemic medications in treatment of acute primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) when immediate laser peripheral iridotomy is neither possible nor safe. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three eyes of 64 consecutive patients with their first presentation of acute PACG, with intraocular pressure (IOP) levels of 40 mmHg or more, were recruited into the study. INTERVENTION: The acute PACG eye of each consenting patient received topical pilocarpine (4%) and topical timolol (0.5%). The patients were then randomized into one of two treatment groups. The ALPI group received immediate ALPI under topical anesthesia. The medical treatment group was given 500 mg of intravenous acetazolamide, followed by oral acetazolamide 250 mg four times daily, and an oral potassium supplement until IOP levels normalized. Intravenous mannitol also was administered to the latter group if the presenting IOP was higher than 60 mmHg. The acute PACG eye of both groups continued to receive topical pilocarpine (1%) until peripheral iridotomy could be performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure profile, corneal clarity, symptoms, visual acuity, angle status by indentation gonioscopy, and complications of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-three acute PACG eyes of 32 patients were randomized to receive immediate ALPI, whereas 40 acute PACG eyes of 32 patients had conventional systemic medical therapy. Both treatment groups were matched for age, duration of attack, and IOP at presentation. The ALPI-treated group had lower IOP levels than the medically treated group at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 1 hour after the start of treatment. The differences were statistically significant. The difference in IOP levels became statistically insignificant from 2 hours onward. The duration of attack did not affect the efficacy of ALPI in reducing IOP in acute PACG. No serious laser complications occurred, at least in the early postlaser period. CONCLUSIONS: Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty significantly is more effective than conventional systemic medications in reducing IOP levels in acute PACG in eyes not suitable for immediate laser peripheral iridotomy within the first 2 hours from the initiation of treatment. Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty is a safe and more effective alternative to conventional systemic medications in the management of acute PACG not amenable to immediate laser peripheral iridotomy.