EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT-EXTRACTION IN EYES PREVIOUSLY OPERATED FOR GLAUCOMA

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.