BACKGROUNDPhacotrabeculectomy can be performed using one-site or two-site incisions. This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of one-site versus two-site phacotrabeculectomy in the treatment of patients with coexisting cataract and glaucoma.

METHODSA comprehensive literature search was performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration methodology to identify randomized controlled clinical trials comparing one-site with two-site phacotrabeculectomy. Studies meeting our predefined criteria were included in the meta-analysis. Efficacy estimates were measured by weighted mean difference (WMD) for the percentage intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction from baseline to end point, relative risk (RR) for the proportion of patients with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.5 or better after surgery and complete success rates. Tolerability estimates were measured by RR for adverse events. All of outcomes were reported with 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Data were synthesised by Stata 10.1 for Windows.

RESULTSTwo-site phacotrabeculectomy was associated with greater reductions in IOP than the one-site procedure (WMD: -5.99, 95%CI: -10.74 - -1.24, P = 0.01). A greater proportion of patients also achieved a BCVA of 0.5 or better (RR: 0.91, 95%CI: 0.74 - 1.12, P = 0.36) and the target IOP without anti-glaucoma medication at the study end point (RR: 0.94, 95%CI: 0.83 - 1.07, P = 0.34) after two-site than one-site phacotrabeculectomy, but the differences were not significant. There were no significant differences in adverse events between two surgical procedures.

CONCLUSIONSTwo-site phacotrabeculectomy is superior to one-site phacotrabeculectomy in reducing IOP, but other post-operative effects are similar. One-site and two-site phacotrabeculectomies have similar adverse event rates.