Safety And Efficacy Of Combined Phacoemulsification Cataract Extraction And Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (Gatt) Utilizing 5/0 Prolene Suture

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining phacoemulsification cataract extraction with Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT) using 5/0 prolene suture in patients with coexisting cataract and open-angle glaucoma.

This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary referral center (Alexandria Main University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt).

A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification cataract extraction and GATT procedure using 5/0 prolene suture. Patients who have completed at least 6 months of follow-up post-surgery were included in the analysis. Preoperative and postoperative data including intraocular pressure (IOP), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number of glaucoma medications, and complications were collected and analyzed.

A total of 18 eyes were included in the study. The mean preoperative IOP was 15.5 mmHg, which decreased significantly to 10.7 mmHg at the final follow-up (p = 0.001). The mean BCVA improved from 0.3 to 0.5 (p = 0.029). The mean number of glaucoma medications decreased significantly from 3.3 to 0.8 (p = 0.004). Complications such as hyphema, transient hypotony, and IOP spikes were observed and were managed conservatively. No serious adverse events have occured.

Combined phacoemulsification cataract extraction and GATT using 5/0 prolene suture is a safe and effective surgical approach for patients with coexisting cataract and open-angle glaucoma. It offers a promising economic alternative for managing glaucoma and cataract simultaneously resulting in significant reductions in IOP and glaucoma medication usage, along with improvements in visual acuity. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to validate these findings and assess long-term outcomes.