[Trabeculotomy ab interno combined with extracapsular cataract extraction and IOL implantation]

We made a total of 96 surgeries of extracapsular cataract extraction and IOL implantation combined with trabeculotomy ab interno during a period of 7 years. Patients with both open-angle and narrow-angle glaucoma of stages I and II and with the intraocular pressure (IOP) below or equal to 23 mm Hg according to Goldman under the conditions of hypotensive medicamental regimen were selected for surgery. After IOL was implanted into the lens bag, trabeculotomy ab interno was implemented as stage 2. A special mirror, introduced through the cataract incision, was used for direct gonioscopic monitoring. The trabecula was incised by the edge of a curved surgical knife under direct visual control. We regarded bleeding from the opened sinus as a favorable sign indicative of that the intrascleral collectors were intact. Only minor hyphemas were registered as postoperative complications; there was not a single case of ciliary-and-choroidal detachment. IOP was compensated for, in 6 months after surgery, in 94% of patients--69.8% of them did not use any hypotensive drops.