[Combined operations of cataract and glaucoma]

To discuss results and possible complications of combined, simultaneous operations of cataract and glaucoma.

21 patients suffering from cataract and glaucoma; 16 women, aged from 59 to 88 years, and 5 men from 66 to 84 years. The patients were treated in the Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy in Białystok in the years 1991 to 1996.

Intracapsular extraction of cataract with lens implantation to the anterior chamber and trabeculectomy was performed in 3 patients with simple glaucoma and hypermatured or brown cataract. In 7 patients only extracapsular cataract extraction was carried out along with trabeculectomy, whereas in 11 remaining ones--trabeculectomy with extracapsular removal of cataract followed by implantation of lens to the posterior chamber (10 subjects) or anterior chamber (1 subject).

Postoperative visual acuity was 5/50-5/16 in 28% of patients. In the remaining 72% it amounted to 5/12 or more. Intraoperative and early postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (71%), but they were only transitory. Delayed follow-up demonstrated that visual acquity had not worsened as compared to the preoperative status, though visual field deteriorated in 3 cases. Intraocular pressure was within normal limits in all patients.

Combined, simultaneous operation of glaucoma and cataract does not seem to give rise to more complications than both procedures performed separately.