AIM:To study the effect of phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation to treat glaucoma with different angle-closure range, which may provide a better way to treat the angle-closure glaucoma.

METHODS:There were 47 cases(54 eyes)with angle-closure glaucoma, and all of them underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. According to the range of goniosynechia, these patients were divided into three groups:the eyes with the range of goniosynechia≤1/2 were group A(13 eyes); the eyes with 1/23/4 were group C(23 eyes). We observed the status of anterior chamber angle and the intraocular pressure(IOP)of the three groups at 2wk after operations.

RESULTS:Compared to the preoperative condition, the IOP of the three groups at 2wk after operations decreased significantly. The IOP reductions of group B and C were more significant than that of group A, and the differences were significant(P<0.05). The adhered peripheral iris range of the 3 groups significantly reduced after operations. There were 13 eyes in group A with angles reopened, and the opened rate was 100%; there were 14 eyes in group B with angles reopened, and the opened rate was 78%; there were 16 eyes in group C with angles reopened, and the opened rate was 70%. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). There were only 3 eyes in group C with recurred glaucoma after treatments, the recurrence rate was 13%, and compared to the other two groups, the difference was statistically significance(P<0.05). No complications occured in group A; 3 eyes with corneal edema and 2 eyes with goniosynechia >3/4 appeared in group B; in group C, there were 5 eyes with goniosynechia>3/4, 1 eye with disappeared anterior chamber, 3 eyes with corneal edema, 1 eye with choroidal hemorrhage. The differences of postoperative complication rate among the three groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). The rates of recurred goniosynechia in group B and C were higher than that of the group A, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:For patients with angle closure glaucoma who have mild to moderate goniosynechia, phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation is an effective way. After operations, their closed anterior angle reopened. But to the patients with severe adhesions, there are more complications after operations, especially the glaucoma may reoccur.