Cataract Surgery in Glaucoma Patients: How Much Benefit?
In this issue of the Journal, Drs. Slabaugh, Bojikian, Moore, and Chen report the effects of phacoemulsification cataract surgery on intraocular pressure in their patients with medically-controlled open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmologists are keenly interested in this topic for many reasons. Cataract and glaucoma are leading causes of global blindness. Also, these conditions are interrelated in several ways that impact clinical management. Cataract may affect the monitoring of glaucoma progression. Patients with glaucoma may have risk factors for cataract surgery, including small pupil and weak zonules. Medical and surgical therapy for glaucoma may influence cataract progression. Moreover, cataract surgery may alter intraocular (Read more...)