THE RESULTS OF AB INTERNO LASER THERMAL SCLEROSTOMY COMBINED WITH CATARACT-SURGERY VERSUS TRABECULECTOMY COMBINED WITH CATARACT-SURGERY 6 TO 12 MONTHS POSTOPERATIVELY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: When cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery a re combined, the theoretical advantages of pressure control, removal o f the visual impairment, and protection against an increase in intraoc ular pressure (IOP) in the immediate postoperative period are gained. The authors' objective was to determine whether ab interno laser therm al sclerostomy (LTS) combined with cataract surgery would be as effect ive as trabeculectomy combined with cataract surgery. PATIENTS AND MET HODS: Ab interno LTS was compared with trabeculectomy, retrospectively , for patients who had undergone combined cataract and glaucoma surger y. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the numbers of pati ents using no medications or fewer medications at 6 and 12 months. The re was a greater reduction in IOP in the LTS group. CONCLUSIONS: LTS m ay be better than trabeculectomy in combined cataract and glaucoma sur gery because it reduces the IOP more. Compared with trabeculectomy, LT S is simpler to perform and adds less operating time to cataract surge ry. Continued followup is recommended.