AIM: To explore the effect of phacoemulsification combined with goniosynechialysis for cataract patients with glaucoma.

METHODS: From May 2013 to December 2014, 120 eyes of 113 patients with cataract and glaucoma admitted to our department were selected, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 88 eyes received phacoemulsification combined with goniosynechialysis(Group A), 32 eyes received phacoemulsification(Group B). All the patients were followed up at 1wk, 1, 2, and 6mo and 1a postoperatively. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field, anterior chamber depth and angle changes before and after the surgery were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: Vision: at each follow-up time point, their vision was improved significantly than before the surgery(P<0.05)in both the groups, and Group A was significantly better than that in Group B(P<0.05). Intraocular pressure: compared with preoperative data, it decreased significantly at each follow-up time point(P<0.05), and Group A significantly decreased much more compared with Group B(P<0.05). Visual field: compared with preoperative data, it increased significantly at each follow-up time point(P<0.05), and Group A significantly had better effect than Group B(P<0.05). After the surgery, the anterior chamber depth were evidently higher than those before the surgery(P<0.001), and Group A significantly had higher anterior chamber depth than Group B(P<0.05). The angle grading after the surgery were improved remarkably than before the operation(P<0.05), and Group A was significantly superior to Group B. There were no serious complications in the two groups.

CONCLUSION: Compared with simply phacoemulsification, phacoemulsification combined with goniosynechialysis is safer, and has better effectiveness for cataract patients with glaucoma. In addition, the latter has advantages in increasing the depth of the anterior chamber, and improving the openness of angle, as well as improving the vision and visual field, while reducing the intraocular pressure.