Cutting Edge Glaucoma - Issue 2

4 • CUTTING EDGE - GLAUCOMA through the incision, the GDI tube is irrigated using an irrigation–aspiration cannula. The corneal incisions are hydrated with balanced salt solution to create a watertight seal. Postoperatively, topical dexamethasone drops combined with chloramphenicol (Oftan Dexa-Chlora, Santen, Tampere, Finland) were applied for 3 weeks. Results Data from 32 patients (32 eyes) performed during two different time periods were reviewed. Patients’ characteristics and preoperative data are summarized in Table 1. The patients in both study groups were comparable with respect to age, IOP, antiglaucoma medication, and visual acuity (Table 1). Table 2 shows the IOP profile after the phacoemulsification surgery as compared between the two study groups. The mean IOP (± SD) in the treatment group was 17.9 ± 4.8 mmHg before phacoemulsification and 16.4 ± 2.8 mmHg at day 1 ( P = 0.09). Average IOP in the control group was prior 15.9 ± 1.9 mmHg and 17.7 ± 8.1 mmHg on the first postoperative day Table 1: Demographic and preoperative data of the study groups. Characteristics Control group Treatment group P No. of patients (eyes) 15 (15) 17 (17) Male/female 6/9 6/11 Diagnosis of glaucoma [ n (%)] Pseudoexfoliation 7 (47) 8 (47) Primary open angle 5 (33) 4 (23) Uveitic 2 (13) 2 (12) Neovascular 1 (7) 2 (12) Pigmentary – 1 (6) GDI type [ n (%)] Molteno 6 (40) – Molteno3 9 (60) 14 (82) Baerveldt – 2 (12) Ahmed – 1 (6) Age (years) Mean ± SD 75.2 ± 14.7 73 ± 8.4 0.531 Visual acuity (logMAR) Mean ± SD 0.7 ± 0.3 0.8 ± 0.8 0.164 IOP (mmHg) Mean ± SD 15.9 ± 1.9 17.9 ± 4.8 0.124 Antiglaucoma medication Mean ± SD 1.4 ± 1.1 1.5 ± 1.5 0.778 Treatment the hooked tube technique, GDI glaucoma drainage implant, SD standard deviation, IOP intraocular pressure