PURPOSE

To evaluate and compare outcomes of CO laser-assisted sclerectomy surgery (CLASS) with mitomycin C (MMC) combined with or without phacoemulsification in adult Asian glaucoma patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective, comparative study.

METHODS

Adult Asian glaucoma patients who underwent CLASS alone or combined with phacoemulsification using standardized surgery by two trained glaucoma surgeons between 2014 and 2016 were identified. The main measures of outcome were: intraocular pressure (IOP), use of supplemental medical therapy, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), microperforations, macroperforations, and repeated intervention(s) for glaucoma.

RESULTS

Forty-one eyes who underwent CLASS alone (13 eyes) or combined with phacoemulsification (28 eyes) were included. Overall, BCVA improved from 0.28 ± 0.19 to 0.14 ± 0.17, and 0.17 ± 0.19, 0.22 ± 0.24, and 0.18 ± 0.23 at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Mean IOP dropped from 17.9 ± 4.7 mmHg to 14.6 ± 5.5, 13.9 ± 3.3, 14.3 ± 3.6, and 14.1 ± 3.7 mmHg, and average number of medications reduced from 2.9 ± 0.9 to 0.2 ± 0.6, 0.5 ± 0.9, 1.0 ± 1.2, and 1.3 ± 1.4 at the same time points. There was no statistically significant difference in BCVA, IOP, and medication reduction between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

CLASS combined with or without phacoemulsification was equally safe and effective, but yielded more modest results in our population.