Purpose: To study the effect of peripheral iridectomy (PI) in phacotrabeculectomy.
Setting: Academic private glaucoma practice with a primarily white patient population.
Methods: This retrospective study comprised 126 eyes of 117 patients randomized for PI or no PI during phacotrabeculectomy who were followed for 12 months. Postoperative parameters in both groups included intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb development, visual acuity, and complications.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in visual acuity or IOP. Bleb development required significantly more 5-fluorouracil therapy in the no-PI group than in the PI group; however, bleb failure and the need for laser suture lysis were not significantly different between groups. Complications were rare in both groups.
Conclusion: Phacotrabeculectomy without PI may be an acceptable alternative to the surgical management of co-existing cataract and glaucoma.