METHODS: Two groups of patients from two centres were compared. The first group underwent phacoemulsification and trabectome (Freiburg), and the second group underwent additional trabecular aspiration (Düsseldorf). Using a case-matched retrospective study design, 50 patients were included into each group. The clinical endpoint was the intraocular pressure at follow up.
RESULTS: The mean follow up was 22 months. Mean intraocular pressure decreased in all 100 patients from 25.0 (SD 4.3) to 14.9 mmHg (SD 4.0). Comparing the two groups, the IOP reduction was from 25.0 (SD 5.0) to 14.1 (SD 4.4) mmHg in the triple procedure group compared to a reduction from 25.0 (3.6) to 15.7 (SD 3.4) mmHg in the phaco/trabectome group. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.03). The number of medication after surgery was reduced from 2.2 (SD 0.9) to 1.7 (SD 0.9) while in the phaco/trabectome group the medication score was reduced from 2.2 (SD 1.0) to 1.1 (SD 0.1) (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the combination of trabectome surgery and phacoemulsification leads to a clinically significant reduction of IOP over several years in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. The addition of trabecular aspiration as a triple procedure results in further lowering of IOP without causing more side effects. This finding might be biased by the higher medication score in the triple procedure group.