Objective: To discuss surgical methods of treating secondary glaucoma due to intumescent senile cataract.
Methods: Of 47 inpatient cases (49 eyes) who suffered from secondary glaucoma due to intumescent senile cataract, 28 cases (30 eyes) had been performed the following four different types of operation; (1) extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL) implantation with peripheral iridectomy, (2) ECCE and PC-IOL implantation with segmental iridectomy, (3) ECCE and PC-IOL implantation with trabeculectomy, and (4) five-combined-operation including scleral trephination, cyclodialysis, vitreous paracentesis, ECCE and PC-IOL implantation.
Results: The corrected visual acuities in 28 eyes had improved, whereas that in 2 eyes did not improve because of optic nerve atrophy. All the intraocular pressure in 30 eyes was within normal limit, including 12 eyes topically using antiglaucoma drugs.
Conclusion: Most of patients with secondary glaucoma due to intumescent senile cataract can be cured surgically by iridectomy or trabeculectomy combined with ECCE and PC-IOL implantation. The five-combined-operation is an effective way to treat difficult cases such as long-term disease course, result with antiglaucoma drugs not satisfactory and swelling lens with flat anterior chamber.