THE COURSE AFTER CATARACT-EXTRACTION, INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANTATION AND TRABECULECTOMY FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative recovery of th e anterior segment and the course of diabetic retinopathy following a combined procedure of an extracapsular cataract extraction with poster ior chamber intraocular lens implantation and trabeculectomy in diabet ic patients with glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of diabet ic patients with uncontrolled glaucoma and cataract, who underwent a c ombined procedure in one eye, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Eleven patients were included. The mean intraocular pressure and the a mount of antiglaucomatous medications required to control it were both reduced postoperatively. Anterior segment complications included hyph ema in 4 eyes (37%), fibrin formation in 4 eyes (37%), and posterior s ynechia in 3 eyes (27%). The hyphema resolved spontaneously and the fi brin disappeared following increased administration of steroids. Devel opment of diabetic retinopathy occurred in 1 eye (9%). Cystoid macular edema without other evidence of diabetic retinopathy was observed in 1 eye (9%). CONCLUSION: The control of intraocular pressure is improve d in diabetic patients who have undergone this combined procedure. The postoperative course in these diabetic patients is similar to that pr eviously described in the general population.