Combined Viscocanalostomy and Cataract Surgery Compared with Cataract Surgery in Japanese Patients with Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) and the incidence of complications after combined viscocanalostomy and cataract surgery with cataract surgery alone in 206 Japanese eyes with POAG or OH. Patients and Methods In a nonrandomized comparative, clinical study, 103 eyes underwent viscocanalostomy and cataract surgery (VCS group), and 103 eyes underwent cataract surgery alone (CSA group) (follow-up, 6–24 months). Reductions in IOP and medications, the probability of successful IOP reduction visual acuity changes, and complications were compared between the 2 groups. Results The reductions in IOP and number of medications in the VCS group were significantly greater than in the CSA group (P ≤ 0.0038 and P ≤ 0.0259, respectively). The probabilities of achieving IOPs less than 21, 18, and 15 mm Hg at 24 months in the VCS groups were 85.0%, 53.6%, and 17.2% with medications, and 61.1%, 43.9%, and 16.2% without medications, and significantly better than in the CSA group (P < 0.0002). The visual outcomes were similar in both groups. Postoperative complications such as hyphema and fibrin formation, although more frequent in the VCS group, were not vision threatening. Conclusion Combined viscocanalostomy and cataract surgery provides good postoperative visual acuity with minimal complications and significantly greater IOP reduction than cataract surgery alone for Japanese patients with glaucoma.