Phacoemulsification in Eyes With Posttrabeculectomy Choroidal Detachment.

Four patients developed choroidal detachment within 3 months after trabeculectomy, documented with b-scan ultrasonography (BUS) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Intraocular pressure (IOP) of the patients ranged from 3 to 5 mm Hg. Patients were treated with cycloplegia and steroids without complete resolution of detachment. Twelve months later all patients had developed visually significant cataracts and underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Procedures were uncomplicated. Visual acuity ranged 0.1 to 0 LogMAR in the first postoperative month. IOP demonstrated an increase of 6 to 8 mm Hg, which was maintained up to 1 year postoperatively. BUS and UBM in the first postoperative month demonstrated a complete resolution of choroidal detachment in all our cases. These patients with choroidal detachment underwent safe and effective phacoemulsification procedures. In addition, choroidal detachment resolved in all our patients, possibly because of intraoperative and postoperative IOP spikes, as well as long-term IOP elevation because of effect of cataract surgery on bleb function.