POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOMES AFTER COMBINED GLAUCOMA SURGERY. COMPARISON OF EX-PRESS MINIATURE IMPLANT WITH STANDARD TRABECULECTOMY RESULTADOS POSTQUIRÚRGICOS EN LA CIRUGÍA COMBINADA DE GLAUCOMA. COMPARACIÓN DEL IMPLANTE EXPRESS CON LA TRABECULECTOMÍA ESTÁNDAR

Purpose: To evaluate postoperative outcomes and success after combined phacoemulsification and glaucoma surgery with Ex-PRESS miniature implant compared with combined surgery with standard trabeculectomy. Methods: In this prospective series of 40 consecutive eyes we compared 20 eyes in 17 patients treated with combined phacoemulsification and glaucoma filtering surgery with the Ex-PRESS miniature glaucoma implant under a scleral flap with 20 matched control eyes in 20 patients who underwent combined cataract and glaucoma surgery with trabeculectomy. Results: The average follow-up was 9.7 months (range 4.5 to 15) for the Ex-PRESS group and 10.3 months (range 3.5 to 14.5) for the trabeculectomy group. The mean IOP was significantly higher in the early postoperative period in the Ex-PRESS group compared with the trabeculectomy group. Complications rate in the early postoperative period was significantily higher in the trabeculectomy group. No significant differences were objectified in success between both groups after the first week.