3-MILLIMETER VERSUS 6-MM INCISIONS IN COMBINED PHACOEMULSIFICATION AND TRABECULECTOMY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the results of phacoemulsificat ion and combined trabeculectomy in subjects receiving either a 3- or a 6-mm scleral incision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated co nsecutive patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and trab eculectomy with a 3-mm incision. These patients were individually matc hed by age, diagnosis, previous surgery, and race to those having a 6- mm incision. RESULTS: The study found that 1 year following surgery, r esults were similar between the 3- and 6-mm incision groups for intrao cular pressure (IOP), bleb height; bleb vascularity, number of glaucom a medicines, anterior chamber depth, visual acuity, spherical equivale nt, cylinder, and axis (P > .05). No difference was observed between g roups with the highest IOP within the first postoperative month (P > . 05). Also, no marked differences in number of complications were noted between groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that 3- and 6-mm inci sion phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy provide similar postoperative IOP control and visual acuity results.