RESULTS OF COMBINED TRABECULECTOMY AND PHACOEMULSIFICATION VIA TUNNELINCISION

Currently a cataract is usually surgically treated by phacoemulsificat ion via tunnel incision. In cases of coexisting cataract and glaucoma a combined surgical procedure is desirable. We combine cataract and fi ltering surgery by simply dissecting a 1 x 1-mm piece from the inner t unnel lamella of a standard corneoscleral tunnel. The results of treat ment of the first 20 eyes by the proposed combined procedure were comp ared with the results of traditional phacoemulsification and tradition al trabeculectomy, With regard to visual acuity, combined surgery was as good as traditional phacoemulsification via tunnel incision. In ter ms of the regulation of intraocular pressure, combined surgery was as good as traditional trabeculectomy, As with trabeculectomy, mild early postoperative complications occur frequently, which require intensive post-operative care. Thus, the combination of trabeculectomy and phac oemulsification via tunnel incision proved to be a successful techniqu e for the surgical treatment of combined cataract and glaucoma.