Regulation of intraocular pressure after combined glaucoma and cataract surgery

Background: The success rate of combined glaucoma and small incision cataract surgery is not yet established. Patients and methods: Therefore, 56 eyes of 52 patients (mean age 79.0 years) having trabeculectomy combined with phacoemulsification and implantation of a silicone posterior chamber lens were retrospectively investigated. Results: The mean follow-up was 21.6 weeks. Due to the combined surgery the mean intraocular pressure decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from 21.8 to 14.8 mmHg. Seventy-five percent of the patients did not need any antiglaucomatous medication, while 25% still had to use a local medication, but less frequently. The overall visual acuity increased significantly (p < 0.001) from a preoperative value of 0.24 to 0.52 postoperatively. Conclusions: The results of combined glaucoma and cataract surgery seem as good as those reported for two separate glaucoma and cataract procedures.