Three-Millimeter Versus 6-mm Incisions in Combined Phacoemulsification and Trabeculectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the results of phacoemulsification and combined trabeculectomy in subjects receiving either a 3- or a 6-mm scleral incision. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated consecutive patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy with a 3-mm incision. These patients were individually matched by age, diagnosis, previous surgery, and race to those having a 6-mm incision. RESULTS: The study found that 1 year following surgery, results were similar between the 3- and 6-mm incision groups for intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb height, bleb vascularity, number of glaucoma medicines, anterior chamber depth, visual acuity, spherical equivalent, cylinder, and axis (P > .05). No difference was observed between groups with the highest IOP within the first postoperative month (P > .05). Also, no marked differences in number of complications were noted between groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that 3- and 6-mm incision phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy provide similar postoperative IOP control and visual acuity results.