Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of cataract surgery combined with canaloplasty compared to canaloplasty alone.
Methods: A total of 43 patients underwent canaloplasty without cataract surgery (group K) and 20 patients underwent canaloplasty with cataract surgery (group K+P). The IOP-lowering effect was measured 4-6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.
Results: The mean presurgical IOP was 18.26 ± 6.07 mmHg in group K and 16.95 ± 3.46 mmHg in group K+P. In group K the mean IOP was 13.08 ± 5.67 mmHg (28% reduction) 4-6 weeks postoperatively, 13.25 ± 4.51 mmHg (27%) 3 months postoperatively, 12.4 ± 3.25 mmHg (32%) 6 months postoperatively and 12.5 ± 2.45 mmHg (32%) 12 months postoperatively. The mean IOP in group K+P was 11.41 ± 4.87 mmHg (33%) 4-6 weeks postoperatively, 10.4 ± 4.88 mmHg (39%) 3 months postoperatively, 11.0 ± 2.89 mmHg (35%) 6 months postoperatively and 13.0 ± 1.94 mmHg (23%) 12 months postoperatively (no statistical significant difference between the two groups).
Conclusions: Combined cataract-canaloplasty surgery has no significant additional IOP-lowering effect compared to canaloplasty alone.