Long-term effects of phacoemulsification surgery on intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

Abstract

Aim: To compare the long-term effects of phacoemulsification surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) patients.Material and Methods: This is a retrospective-comparative study. The data of the patients who underwent phacoemulsificationsurgery by the same surgeon between 2010 and 2016 and followed up more than 24 months postoperatively were collected. Whilegroup 1 consisted of 24 patients with POAG group 2 consisted of 16 patients with PXG. Preoperative, postoperative 1st day, 1st, 12th,18th, 24th, 36th and 48th months IOP and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were enrolled.Results: The mean follow-up time of group 1 was 44.17 ± 17.8 months and 43.13 ± 19.4 months for group 2 (p= 0.86). There wasno statistically significant difference between the groups in the preoperative, postoperative 1st day, 1st, 12th, 18th, 36th and 48thmonths IOP (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference for the IOP value measured postoperative 24th month betweenthe groups (p= 0.005). There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative 1st, 12nd months IOPmeasurements in group 1 (p= 0.02; p= 0.009, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative andpostoperative 24th months IOP measurements in group 2 (p=0.01).Conclusion: Although phacoemulsification surgery may cause an increase (14-19 %) in IOP early postoperative period in eyes withPOAG and PXG, may provide a modest level decreases (19-18 %) in the long term.