Corneal power changes and refractive outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the refractive deviations after phacoemulsification surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and to investigate the effect of anterior segment parameters on these deviations. Materials and Methods: Preoperative and postoperative 6th month values of spherical equivalents, axial lengths, anterior chamber depths, corneal powers of POAG and PEG patients who had undergone phacoemulsification surgery were compared retrospectively. Results: A total of 41 patients, 24 with PEG and 17 with POAG, were included in the study. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of axial length, preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), 6-month postoperative IOP, IOP reduction, lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, surgically induced astigmatism, preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT), 6-month postoperative CCT, CCT thinning, 6-month postoperative spherical equivalent (SE), and deviation from the target refraction. There were no statistically significant differences in the measurements of anterior corneal power, posterior corneal power and net corneal power between the PEG and POAG groups preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. (p>0.05 for all). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that PEG and POAG patients undergoing cataract surgery have similar clinical outcomes, including anterior segment parameters and refractive outcomes.