AIM: To investigate NO levels in tears and anterior chamber inflammation after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with trabeculectomy through different operative incisions.

METHODS: Totally 49 patients(50 eyes)with primary acute angle-closure glaucoma and cataract were randomly divided to single-incision group and double-incision group. Both were treated by phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation and trabeculectomy after routine IOP-lowering drugs treatment. Preoperative and postoperative NO levels in tears were compared, and the aqueous flare and cells were examined using a laser flare-cell meter(LFCM).

RESULTS: Postoperative tear NO was 9.86±0.78μmol/L in single-incision group,it was 9.13±0.67μmol/L in double-incision group, the differences was statistically significant(t=3.57,P<0.05). Postoperative aqueous flare values was 62.42±18.16 pc/ms in single-incision group; it was 52.20±17.57 pc/ms in double-incision group,the differences was statistically significant(t=2.02, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The early inflammatory injury of double-incision was significantly lower than that of single-incision. It has the advantages of safety. But the surgical skill should be improved to less the injuries caused by operations.