Transscleral Vs Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation: Safety and Efficacy when Combined with Phacoemulsification

Precis: Phacoemulsification combined with MicroPulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation appears to provide significantly greater long-term IOP reduction than phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation without compromising safety.Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and safety of phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/ECP), phacoemulsification combined with MicroPulse transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (phaco/MP-TSCPC), and phacoemulsification alone (phaco) in the treatment of coexisting cataract and glaucoma. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive cases at Massachusetts Eye & Ear. The main outcome measures were the cumulative probabilities of failure between the phaco/ECP group, phaco/MP-TSCPC group, and the phaco alone group with failure defined as reaching NLP vision at any point postoperatively or the inability to maintain ≥20% IOP reduction from baseline with IOP between 5-18 mmHg. Additional outcome measures included changes in average IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and complication rates. Results: 64 eyes from 64 patients (25 phaco/ ECP, 20 phaco/ MPTSCPC, 19 phaco alone) were included in this study. The groups did not differ in age (mean 71.04 ± 6.7 years) or length of follow-up time. Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most common type of glaucoma in the phaco alone (42%) and phaco/ECP (48%) groups while mixed-mechanism glaucoma was the most common type in the phaco/MP-TSCPC group (40%). The mean IOP reductions at 1 year were 3.07 ± 5.3 mmHg from a baseline of 15.78 ± 4.7 in the phaco/ECP group, 6.0 ± 4.3 mmHg from a baseline of 18.37 ± 4.6 in the phaco/MP-TSCPC group and 1.0 ± 1.6 from a baseline of 14.30 ± 4.2 mmHg in the phaco alone group. Surgical failure was less likely in eyes in the phaco/MP-TSCPC and phaco/ECP groups compared to phaco alone based on the Kaplan-Meier survival criteria, with failure defined as the inability to maintain an IOP reduction of 20% or more with IOP between 5-18 mm Hg long term. There were no differences in complications among the three groups. Conclusions: Phaco/MP-TSCPC appears to provide for greater long-term IOP control than phaco alone and phaco/ECP. All three procedures had similar safety profiles.