Three and Five Year Changes in Intraocular Pressures After Clear Corneal Phacoemulsification in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients, Glaucoma Suspects, and Normal Patients

PURPOSEThis study evaluates the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medication requirements after clear corneal phacoemulsification in open angle glaucoma patients, glaucoma suspects, and normal patients at 3 years and last follow-up (mean 5 y). PATIENTS AND METHODSThis study represents a retrospective analysis of patients who had clear corneal phacoemulsification and at least 3 years of follow-up. The patients were classified into 3 groupsglaucoma (G), glaucoma suspects (GS), and no glaucoma (NG). No patient had a history of previous intraocular surgery. Single factor analysis of variance, Fisher exact tests, 2-tailed paired Student t tests and Kaplan-Meier analysis were applied. RESULTSForty-eight patients (55 eyes) in the glaucoma group, 41 patients (44 eyes) in the GS group, and 59 patients (59 eyes) in the NG group met the above criteria. At 3 years follow-up IOP was significantly decreased in all groups; (G) group decreased 1.4±3.3 mm Hg (P=0.0025), GS 1.4±4.2 mm Hg (P=0.004), and NG 1.7±3.1 mm Hg (P=0.0005). At the final follow-up visit (mean near 5 y for all groups) the IOP was significantly decreased in all groups, (G) group 1.8±3.5 mm Hg (P=0.005), GS 1.3±3.7 mm Hg (P=0.025), and NG 1.5±2.5 mm Hg (P