Author(s)

Channdarith Kith¹, Piseth Kong¹, Kossama Chukmol¹, Bunseng Sea¹, Seiha Do², Meng Ngy², Amarin Mar¹, Ratneary Hav³, Saly Saint³

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Preah Ang Duong Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
²Department of Ophthalmology, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
³Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Background: Goniosynechialysis is a surgical procedure that has been shown to slow the progression of glaucoma in oriental eyes with chronic angle closure glaucoma. This procedure was successful in 80% of cases, and the peripheral anterior syenchiae did not exist until one year later. Nonetheless, there is little evidence of its efficacy in our context. Our study aims to investigate the efficacy of goniosynechialysis during phacoemulsification in patients with primary angle closure disease and concomitant cataract. Methods: This was an observational, prospective study. The intra-ocular pressure, need for anti-glaucoma drugs, visual acuity, the extent of synechiae, anterior chamber depth, surgical success rate, and other indicators were monitored for at least three months following surgery. Results: This study included 114 patients (118 eyes), 61 with chronic angle closure glaucoma (51.69%), 33 with primary angle closure (27.97%), and 24 with acute attack angle closure (20.34%), who were surgically treated with phacoemulsification and goniosynechialysis (Phaco-GSL). The mean intra-ocular pressure had significantly decreased three months after surgery (pre- vs post-op: 22.04 ± 10.86 vs 15.41 ± 6.06 mmHg, p-value < 0.00001). The anti-glaucoma drugs also decreased (median, 2 vs none, p-value < 0.05). The median visual acuity increased (0.50 vs 0.40 logMAR, p-value < 0.05). The extent of synechiae reduced (135.00 ± 89.68 vs 72.80 ± 61.64 degrees, p-value < 0.00001). Furthermore, the anterior chamber depth increased from 1.47 ± 0.40 to 2.79 ± 0.50 mm, p-value < 0.00001. Despite fibrins and hyphema in the early period, no remarkable complications were found in long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Regardless of the type of glaucoma, combined phacoemulsification-goniosynechialysis is effective in lowering pressure, restoring vision, reducing the need for anti-glaucoma drugs, and preventing the synechial recurrence. Success was higher in eyes with less extensive synechiae. Phaco-GSL is safe and effective in the treatment of primary angle closure diseases with co-existing cataract.

Efficacy, Phacoemulsification, Goniosynechialysis, Primary Angle-Closure Disease, Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma, Gonioscopy, Intra-Ocular Pressure, Peripheral Anterior Synechiae, Anti-Glaucoma Drugs, Anterior Chamber Depth

Kith, C. , Kong, P. , Chukmol, K. , Sea, B. , Do, S. , Ngy, M. , Mar, A. , Hav, R. and Saint, S. (2024) Efficacy of Combined Phacoemulsification and Goniosynechialysis in the Treatment of Patients with Primary Angle Closure Disease and Concomitant Cataract at Preah Ang Duong Hospital in Cambodia. Open Journal of Ophthalmology, 14, 284-312. doi: 10.4236/ojoph.2024.143028.