Effect of a resutured iridotomy on glare disability in glaucoma patients having cataract surgery

Twenty-two glaucoma patients with fixed miotic pupils prior to cataract surgery were retrospectively divided into two groups: Group A in which the sector iridotomy was resutured after intraocular lens insertion; Group B in which the sector iridotomy was not resutured. The two groups were matched for average age, sex, average disease duration, glaucoma type, operation type, mean follow-up, and average intraocular pressure and cup/disc ratio. Glare disability was measured with the Miller-Nadler tester. A similar reduction in visual acuity under glare was found in the two groups: 0.55 + 1.2 and 0.45 + 0.9 Snellen lines for Groups A and B, respectively. These findings are explained by two additional observations: Reduction in visual acuity under glare was positively correlated to the degree of posterior capsule opacity (r=0.4) and not to the functional pupillary area (r=0.13). Functional pupillary area (upper lid in normal position) was 42% larger in the nonresutured group compared to 85% difference in the total pupillary area.