Clinical outcomes of eyes with aqueous shunt implants after phacoemulsification

Session Details

Session Title: Glaucoma II

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 08/09/2015 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 10:12

Venue: Room 17

First Author: : R.Puertas UK

Co Author(s): :    K. Barton   D. Plemel   R. Puertas   M. Zahari           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To assess the effect of cataract surgery on IOP and glaucoma medication usage in eyes previously implanted with aqueous tube shunt devices.

Setting:

Consecutive interventional case series of eyes that underwent aqueous shunt implantation followed by phacoemulsification under the care of one surgeon in a tertiary referral center between 1998 and 2010. Glaucoma Service,Moorfields Eye Hospital, London ,United Kindgom

Methods:

Eligible patients were identified from a prospectively acquired electronic database of aqueous shunt implants. Records of eligible patients were reviewed and the following collected: visual acuity, IOP, glaucoma medication usage and further glaucoma surgical procedures. Data were collected before phacoemulsification and postoperatively at 1 day; 1 week; 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months; and at last follow-up. Comparisons were made using a two-tailed Student t test where a P value of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

Results:

Forty-seven (47) eyes met the study criteria. Visual acuity significantly improved at all times following phacoemulsification, from 1.13 logMAR ± 0.79 (mean ± SD) pre-phacoemulsification to 0.71 logMAR ± 0.80 (mean ± SD) at last follow-up. Intra-ocular pressure at last follow-up was 13.89mmHg ± 4.24 (mean ± SD) compared to 14.77mmHg ± 5.24 (mean ± SD) pre-phacoemulsification. It was significantly lower at the one-week time-point, but not otherwise (P=0.01) The mean number of glaucoma medications has not increased: 1 (0.85) ± 1.02 (mean ± SD) pre-phacoemulsification and 1 (1.04) ± 1.18 (mean ± SD) at last follow-up (P = 0.38).

Conclusions:

Phacoemulsification in eyes previously implanted with aqueous shunts for glaucoma improves visual acuity without significantly altering the IOP or the number of medication used.

Financial Interest:

One of the authors research is funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, One of the authors research is funded, fully or partially, by a competing company