LONG-TERM INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE CONTROL AFTER CATARACT-EXTRACTION WITHTRABECULECTOMY - PHACOEMULSIFICATION VERSUS EXTRACAPSULAR TECHNIQUE

Purpose: To compare long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) control after extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implanta tion combined with trabeculectomy (ECCE+TRAB) with that after phacotra beculectomy and IOL implantation. Setting: Glaucoma Unit, Royal Liverp ool University Hospital, liverpool, England. Method: This retrospectiv e study comprised 32 eyes having ECCE+TRAB and 31 eyes having phacotra beculectomy with a mean follow-up of 37.5 and 41.0 months, respectivel y. The need for pressure-lowering medication was recorded. Kaplan-Meie r curves were created for each group. Results: At every measurement af ter 3 weeks of follow-up, significantly fewer eyes in the phacotrabecu lectomy group required IOP-lowering medication (P =.04). Conclusions: After both ECCE+TRAB and phacotrabeculectomy, IOP control was achieved in significantly more eyes on fewer pressure-lowering medications tha n preoperatively. Phacotrabeculectomy with IOL implantation led to bet ter unaided long-term postoperative IOP control than ECCE+TRAB with IO L implantation.