Objective:

To compare intraocular pressure lowering effect of combined sclerotomy ab interno with phacoemulsification and phacoemulsification alone, in primary or secondary open angle glaucoma patients.

Study design:

Prospective, randomized, case- control interventional surgical trial

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) inadequately controlled with maximum tolerated medical therapy and who will be treated with cataract surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• One eyed patients
• Unwilling or unable to give consent, unwilling to accept randomization, or unable to return for scheduled protocol visits
• The presence of extreme narrow angle with complete or partial closure in either eye, except for occludable angles treated with a patent iridectomy
• Any abnormality preventing reliable applanation tonometry, any opacity or patient uncooperativeness that would restrict adequate examination of the ocular fundus or anterior chamber of either eye
• The risk of visual field or visual acuity worsening as a consequence of participation in the trial, in the investigator's opinion
• Any clinically significant, serious, or severe medical or psychiatric condition; any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, would interfere with optimal participation in the study or present a special risk to the patient
• Participation in any other investigational study within 30 days prior to baseline visit