Vision-Related Quality of Life following Combined Cataract and Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery or Cataract Surgery Alone in Glaucoma Patients

Abstract

This study examined glaucoma patients after undergoing combined cataract and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), microhook ab interno trabeculotomy and goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB), or cataract surgery alone, and it then evaluates their vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) following the procedure. A total of 75 eyes of 75 consecutive glaucoma patients in this prospective cohort study underwent phacoemulsification (Phaco) or phaco and MIGS (Phaco-TLO) between October 2019 and March 2022. In all cases, the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was used to evaluate the 20 eyes in the Phaco group and the 55 eyes in the Phaco-TLO group before and at 2 months after surgery. There was a significant increase in the visual acuity (logMAR) at 2 months post-operatively (Phaco group; 0.34 ± 0.10 to −0.07 ± 0.1, p < 0.0001, Phaco-TLO group; 0.37 ± 0.43 to 0.09 ± 0.32, p < 0.0001). The median (25–75th percentile) total VFQ scores in the Phaco group before and at 2 months after surgery were 71.1 (62.4–80.6) and 79.4 (69.0–84.0), respectively. (p = 0.006). The median (25–75th percentile) total VFQ scores in the Phaco-TLO group before and at 2 months after surgery were 69.8 (55.3–78.6) and 74.7 (65.1–83.3), respectively. (p = 0.005). Glaucoma patients who underwent not only cataract surgery alone but also combined cataract surgery and MIGS exhibited significant improvement in the VR-QOL.