[Combined operation of glaucoma and cataract. Comparison between 2 operative techniques]

In this retrospective study of combined surgery we compared patients who underwent Trabeculectomy (Trab.) + Intracapsular cataract extraction (EIC) +/- Intraocular lens (IOL) with patients who underwent Trabeculectomy + Extracapsular cataract extraction (EEC) +/- IOL. All the patients presented with primary open angle glaucoma with a senile cataract. Each group studied included 20 eyes. After 24 months we confirmed that the mean postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) showed a decrease of 7.4 mmHg in the first group (EIC + Trab.) and 5.46 mmHg in the second group (EEC + Trab.) of patients. A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (p less than 0.05). On the basis of IOP the 1st group showed a success rate of 85% after an average period of 23.55 months (6-43 months). The 2nd group presented a success rate of 90% after an average period of 18.3 months (4-37 months). The mean visual acuity after 24 months improved in the 1st group from 0.10 to 0.50 and in the second group from 0.13 to 0.50. Seventy percent of the eyes recovered a visual acuity greater than or equal to 0.4 in each of the two groups. In both groups of patients, surgery allowed a reduction in the prescription of drugs. We therefore verified that, in the first group, combined surgery allowed us to more effectively control the IOP while achieving a greater improvement in visual acuity. However, it must be stressed that intracapsular cataract extraction is associated with a higher complication rate.