[Evolution of secondary pseudoexfoliative glaucoma after cataract surgery in patients with cataract-glaucoma combination].

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of the cataract surgery on the evolution of the secondary open angle glaucoma (SOAG) in patients with pseudoexfoliative syndrome (PEX) that present the association cataract--SOAG.

METHODS

A prospective study on 2 years on a group of 12 eyes with PEX syndrome presenting the association cataract-secondary open angle glaucoma, that have been operated by phacoemulsification + PC IOL, without intra-operator complications. We have monitored the effects of the cataract surgery on the evolution of the glaucomatous disease, evaluated by: monitoring of the IOP dynamics, the analysis of the visual field defects and the aspect of the FO, the evolution of the visual acuity and the morphology of the specific changes of PEX. The analysed group has been compared with a control group (5 eyes) presenting the association cataract--POAG, operated by phacoemulsification by the same surgeon. We have used the SPSS programme for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

In the follow-up period we have observed almost similar evolutions of the IOP dynamic, but we obtained in PEX group statistically significant lowering of the IOP than in the control group. In PEX group the papillo-perimetric results have presented significantly different characteristics than in the control group, without having an influence on the visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the cataract extraction has produced in both groups, on a medium follow-up, an IOP decrease from the pre-operator values, the glaucomatous disease in PEX patients, probably because of other specific risk factors, continues to progress.