Complex use of energetic surgery in treatment of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and cataract on the background of pseudoexfoliative syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma remains one of the current problems of modern ophthalmology. The combination of glaucoma and cataract is observed in 1738.6% of cases, and glaucoma with pseudoexfoliative syndrome in 2050% of primary open-angle glaucoma cases.
 AIM: The aim of this work is to develop an effective and safe technology of complex energetic surgical treatment of the incipient primary open-angle glaucoma stage and cataract on the background of pseudoexfoliation syndrome on the basis of modified laser, hydrodynamic and ultrasound methods use.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 187 patients (187 eyes) with the incipient stage of primary open-angle glaucoma, cataract and pseudoexfoliation syndrome were examined. In the main group (111 eyes), selective laser trabeculoplasty followed by femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with hydrodynamic trabeculocleaning was performed. Patients in the control group (76 eyes), after selective laser trabeculoplasty, underwent phacoemulsification according to the standard technique.
 RESULTS: The developed technology allowed to reach the hypotensive effect in 35.2% (t = 23.0; p 0.001) of baseline intraocular pressure values, of individual intraocular pressure level without adding IOP-lowering medications in 27% of cases, stabilization of visual functions and morphometric indices of the optic disc during 2 years of follow-up in 97.3% of cases unlike the selective laser trabeculoplasty with subsequent phacoemulsification (21.2, 5.3 and 81.6% respectively). The patients of the main group had significantly lower energy expenditure during the stage of phacoemulsification, a lower percentage of postoperative inflammatory reaction was noted, and a persistent hypotensive effect with stabilization of visual functions was achieved based on the results of a two-year follow-up.
 CONCLUSIONS: Femtosecond laser-assisted phacoemulsification, performed as part of complex treatment in patients with cataract and incipient stage of primary open-angle glaucoma, is a sparing method that minimizes surgical trauma and achieves a persistent hypotensive effect, reduces intraocular pressure to an individual level and stabilizes visual functions in 97.3% of cases.