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  • Phaco produces small decrease in IOP in open-angle glaucoma

    By John T. Lind, MD, MS
    Cataract/Anterior Segment, Glaucoma

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    This retrospective study of patients with medically controlled open-angle glaucoma found that phacoemulsification resulted in a small average decrease in IOP, although 38 percent experienced an increase in IOP or required additional treatment. Higher preoperative IOP was the strongest predictor of postoperative IOP reduction.

    The study included 157 patients (157 eyes) treated by a single surgeon between January 1997 and October 2011.

    The average preoperative IOP of 16.3 mm Hg decreased to 14.5 mm Hg at one year (P < 0.001). Sixty eyes (38 percent) required additional medication, laser or surgery at one year or had a higher IOP at that time without medication change. Among those, in about 6 percent, IOP had worsened by ≥ 3 mm Hg.

    Factors related to decreased IOP following cataract extraction included higher preoperative IOP (P < 0.001), older age (P = 0.006) and larger anterior chamber depth (P = 0.015).