360-degree suture trabeculotomy ab interno with phacoemulsification in open-angle glaucoma and coexisting cataract: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: We performed a pilot trial to evaluate the 24-month safety and efficacy of 360-degree suture trabeculotomy ab interno with phacoemulsification used to treat mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma coexisting with cataract. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We randomly assigned 18 eyes with open-angle glaucoma and coexisting cataract to undergo 360-degree suture trabeculotomy ab interno with phacoemulsification (combined) or phacoemulsification alone (control) (1:1 ratio) and followed up patients for 24 months. Main outcome measures were mean postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and success probabilities based on Kaplan-Meier life table analyses. Surgical success was defined as follows: criterion A: IOP value ≥6 mm Hg and ≤15 mm Hg, with ≥20 % reduction without medication; criterion B: IOP value ≥6 mm Hg and ≤12 mm Hg, with ≥30% reduction without medication. Secondary outcome measures included the number of medications, complications and best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Mean IOP values (number of medications), which were 18.4 mm Hg (0.9) and 17.1 mm Hg (1.3) at baseline, showed significant reductions to 11.8 mm Hg (1.0) and 14.6 mm Hg (1.5) at 24 months postoperatively in the combined and control groups, respectively (p=0.0003 and 0.0192, respectively). Success rates for criterion A in the combined and control groups were 77.8% and 11.1%, respectively (p=0.0110) and those for criterion B in the combined and control groups were 46.7% and 0%, respectively (p=0.0036). Both groups had a similar overall occurrence of postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Using 360-degree suture trabeculotomy ab interno with phacoemulsification appeared to be a more beneficial option for mild to moderate open-angle glaucoma with coexisting cataract than phacoemulsification alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000021170, date of registration: 2016/03/01.