Extracapsular cataract extraction with IOL implantation was performed
in 32 consecutive cases of glaucomatous eyes which previously had unde
rgone trabeculectomy (group A). The only complication seen during surg
ery was one tear in the posterior capsule. The mean IOP on postoperati
ve day 1 was 17.7 +/- 7.9 mmHg. After extracapsular cataract extractio
n in 68 glaucomatous eyes with no previous surgery (group B) the corre
sponding mean IOP was 21.7 +/- 7.5 mmHg (p = 0.015). However, the mean
preoperative IOP level was lower in group A (group A: 14.3 +/- 4.0 mm
Hg, group B: 17.1 +/- 4.3 mmHg), so the increase in IOP was not signif
icantly different in the two groups. In group A, 15.6% of the eves had
an IOP elevation exceeding 24 mmHg, compared to 30.9% of the eyes in
group B. Four months postoperatively, the IOP was significantly reduce
d in group B and unchanged in group A (compared to preoperatively. Sev
enty-two percent of the eyes in group A and 79% of the eyes in group B
achieved a visual acuity of 5/10 or better, respectively.