Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the intraoperative and postoperative complications and outcomes of phacoemulsification of cataract in eyes with prior iriodotomy for acute angle closure glaucoma.
Methods
This retrospective case-control study included 30 eyes which underwent phacoemulsification. All 30 eyes had prior acute angle closure treated by laser iridotomy (ACG group). A second group that had phacoemusification for cataract only served as control (Control group).
Results
The ACG group showed significantly shallow anterior chamber (1.56±0.18 mm) and short axial length (22.32±0.60 mm). At 2 months after surgery, visual acuity was improved in both groups and IOP was significantly decreased in the ACG group. Posterior synechiae, small pupil and zonulysis were more commonly found in the ACG group than the control group. Intraoperative iris trauma and postoperative persistent mydriasis were also more common in the ACG group.
Conclusions
During cataract surgery in eyes with prior iriodotomy for acute angle closure glaucoma, there are many preoperative risk factors such as shallow anterior chamber, zonulysis, and small pupil. These increase the risk of posterior capsule rupture and bullous keratopathy. To reduce the complications and improve the visual acuity, a careful preoperative examination and proper intra- and post-operative management by skillful surgeons are needed.
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References
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![]() | Figure 1.Types of cataract in study and control patients. NS=nuclear sclerosis; C=cortical; PSC= posterior subcap sular; Mixed=NS/cortical; PSC/cortical or NS/PSC/Cortical. There are no statistical significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05 in all cases). |
![]() | Figure 2.Graphs demonstrating the course of the intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after phacoemulsification. At 1 and 2 months after surgery, intraocular pressure was significantly lowered in the angle-closure group (p=0.018, p=0.011). |
Table 1.
Preoperative and postoperative characteristics
∗ ACG | Control | p-value | |
---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 69.07±8.95 (48 to 80) | 68.67±8.42 (50 to 81) | 0.859 |
Gender Male | 6 | 9 | |
Female | 24 | 21 | |
IOP (mmHg) | 16.53±2.97 (12 to21) | 15.53±2.52 (9 to 20) | 0.296 |
† UCVA (logMAR) | 0.80±0.11 (0.39 to 2.00) | 0.74±0.42 (0.30 to 1.4 | 40)0.586 |
‡ BCVA (logMAR) | 0.63±0.42 (0.09 to 2.00) | 0.60±0.40 (0.49 to 1.4 | 40)0.763 |
Medications (number) | 1.33±1.09 (0 to 3) | 0 | 0.000 |
Nucleus opacity score (§ LOCS III) | 3.27±0.98 (2 to 6) | 3.27±0.98 (2 to 6) | 1.000 |
Table 2.
Preoperative biometric characteristics
∗ ACG | Control | P-value |
---|---|---|
Spherical equivalent (D) -2.09±2.96 (-4.25 to +3.75) | -1.46±3.35 (-4.50 to +3.00) | 0.564 |
Cylindrical refraction (D)1.24±1.28 (plano to 4.25) | 1.46±1.46 (plano to 3.25) | 0.613 |
A-scan biomicroscopy | ||
ACD (mm)1.56±0.18 (1.17 to 1.85) | 2.56±0.35 (1.89 to 3.32) | 0.002 |
Lens thickness (mm)5.72±0.29 (5.32 to 6.27) | 5.26±0.99 (3.52 to 6.26) | 0.022 |
Axial length (mm) 22.32±0.60 (20.9 to 23.9) | 23.48±1.03 (21.86 to 25.49) | 0.054 |
† LT to ‡ AL ratio factor 0.26±0.01 (0.24 to 0.27) | 0.23±0.04 (0.15 to 0.26) | 0.001 |
§ IOL power (D) 22.90±1.53 (20.5 to 26) | 20.39±2.25 (16 to 23.5) | 0.248 |
Endothelial cell count (mm2)2268.87±531.39 (1256 to 2932) | 2592.40±372.69 (1814 to 3267) | 0.004 |
Table 3.
Preoperative ocular characteristics
Table 4.
Intraoperative observation and complications
Complications | ∗ ACG | Control | P-value |
---|---|---|---|
Iris trauma | 7 (23.3%) | 1 (3.3%) | 0.023 |
Hyphema | 4 (13.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0.038 |
Unsuccessful † CCC | 2 (6.7%) | 1 (3.3%) | 0.554 |
Posterior capsule rupture | 3 (10.0%) | 1 (3.3%) | 0.301 |
Without anterior vitrectomy | 1 (3.3%) | 1 (3.3%) | |
With anterior vitrectomy | 2 (6.7%) | 0 (0%) | |
Radial tear during capsulorhexis or phacoemulsification | 3 (10.0%) | 0 (0%) | 0.076 |
Dropped nuclear fragment | 1 (3.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0.313 |
Table 5.
Intraoperative additional procedures
Additional procedures | ∗ ACG | Control | P-value |
---|---|---|---|
Synechiolysis | 9 (30.0%) | 0 (0%) | 0.001 |
Tension ring implantation | 2 (6.7%) | 0 (0%) | 0.150 |
† IOL implantation into the sulcus | 3 (10.0%) | 1 (3.3%) | 0.301 |
IOL scleral fixation | 2 (6.7%) | 0 (0%) | 0.150 |
Table 6.
Postoperative complications.
Complications | ∗ ACG | Control | P-value |
---|---|---|---|
Persistent mydriasis | 7 (23.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0.005 |
Corneal edema | 8 (26.7%) | 3 (10.0%) | 0.095 |
Hyphema | 4 (13.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0.038 |
Vitreous tractional membrane requiring Nd:YAG | 2 (6.7%) | 0 (0%) | 0.150 |
Increased in intraocular pressure (≥25 mmHg) | 2 (6.7%) | 0 (0%) | 0.150 |
Bullous keratopathy | 1 (3.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0.313 |