AIM: To observe the clinical effect of trabeculectomy combined with dexamethasone iontophoresis in the treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma(PACG)with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: Totally 42 eyes of 42 patients with acute PACG combined with diabetes in our hospital were selected and divided into trabeculectomy combined with iontophoresis group(group A)and trabeculectomy combined with peribulbar injection of methylprednisolone group(group B)according to different ways of controlling inflammation after surgery. Intraocular pressure, anterior chamber inflammation and complications before and after surgery were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The intraocular pressure of the two groups after surgery was significantly improved compared with that before surgery, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Postoperative anterior chamber inflammation was well controlled in both groups without statistical significance(P>0.05). In terms of complications, group A was significantly superior to group B.

CONCLUSION: Trabeculectomy combined with dexamethasone iontophoresis or peribulbar injection of methylprednisolone can effectively control postoperative intraocular pressure and anterior chamber inflammation in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma complicated with diabetes mellitus. Among them, the effect of combined dexamethasone iontophoresis in reducing complications is better and patients suffer less pain.