PHACOEMULSIFICATION, INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANTATION, AND TRABECULOTOMYTO TREAT PSEUDOEXFOLIATION SYNDROME

Purposes: To determine the long-term risk/benefit ratio of phacoemulsi fication and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation combined with trabecu lotomy to manage eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and cc-existing cataract. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Ky oto University Graduate School of Medicine; Kurihara Eye Clinic, Depar tments of Ophthalmology, Tenri Hospital, Kumamoto University, and Mats ue Red Hospital, Nagata Eye Clinic, Japan. Methods: This multicenter r etrospective study comprised 49 eyes of 36 patients with pseudoexfolia tion syndrome and cc-existing cataract who had the combined procedure for uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) (>21 mm Hg) even on antigl aucoma medication. Results: After a mean follow-up of 20.0 months +/- 13.2 (SD), IOP in all 49 eyes was well controlled (less than or equal to 21 mm Hg). Mean IOP at the final examination was 14.6 +/- 2.6 mm Hg on a mean of 0.9 +/- 0.8 glaucoma medications. Complications included an IOP spike in 11 eyes and fibrin exudation in 1 eye. Conclusion: Ph acoemulsification and IOL implantation combined with trabeculotomy was an effective treatment for patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome a nd cataract.