First Outcomes Of Combined Phaco-Emulsification With Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy In Patients With Glaucoma In The Netherlands

This study investigates the effectiveness of Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy (ELT) as a surgical intervention in patients with glaucoma undergoing phaco-emulsification with lens implantation.

University Eye Clinic, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands

A combined procedure of phaco-emulsification with lens implantation and Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy (ELT, Elios Vision Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA) was conducted on patients with coexisting cataract and glaucoma. Data was included for analysis if a minimum follow-up period of 3 months was available.

Data from 75 eyes of 44 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 73.9 years. Glaucoma subtypes included primary open angle(55 eyes), narrow angle(12), pseudo-exfoliation(4) and pigment dispersion(4) glaucoma. Mean intraocular pressure(IOP) decreased from 16.8±5.3mmHg preoperatively to 16.5±7.4, 13.2±3.5, 12.7±3.2(n=75) and 12.8±3.1mmHg(n=51) at 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Mean medication number decreased from 2.3±1.2 preoperatively to 1.8±1.3, 1.8±1.2, 1.4±1.1(n=75) and 1.4±1.2(n=51) at same postoperative intervals. Both IOP and medications were significantly lower at all time points from 1 month postoperatively(P<0.001). Besides reversible microhyphema(2 eyes) and transient IOP spikes(8) no other complications occurred.

In this patient cohort, Excimer Laser Trabeculostomy proved to be a safe treatment option for patients with cataracts and glaucoma. Further research and long-term follow-up are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of this treatment.