Temporal corneal phacoemulsification combined with separate-incision superior trabeculectomy vs standard phacotrabeculectomy : a comparative study

The aim of the study was to compare functional and refractive outcome after temporal approach phacoemulsification combined with superior trabeculectomy against that of standard superior phacotrabeculectomy in patients affected by cataract and uncontrolled glaucoma. Fifty patients undergoing combined surgery were randomly allocated to receive either a standard superior phacotrabeculectomy (group A) or a temporal via clear cornea phacoemulsification combined with a separate superior trabeculectomy (group B). Short-term and long-term mean IOP reductions were similar in the two groups though, at 2 years, more patients in the standard phacotrabeculectomy group had need of medical therapy to control their ocular pressure (p = 0.04). Group B had less surgically induced astigmatism than group A (p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in ocular inflammation and complication rates between the 2 groups.