First Author: I.Sencanic SERBIA
Co Author(s): M. Stamenkovic S. Babovic V. Jovanovic V. Jaksic A. Markovic
Purpose:
To investigate the effect of cataract surgery on visual field of patients with coexisting primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and nuclear sclerotic cataract.
Setting:
: Clinic for Eye Disease “Prof. dr Ivan Stankovic” University Medical Centre Zvezdara, Belgrade, Serbia
Methods:
Visual fields of 21 patients (26 eyes) with POAG who underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation were evaluated pre and post operatively. All patients had visual field examination within a period of 24 months before and after the surgery. Visual field indices mean defect (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were compared before and after cataract surgery.
Results:
Mean preoperative MD in patients with nuclear sclerotic cataract was -3.82+4.62 dB (range -13.20 to 3.13dB) while postoperative was MD -3.60+4.24 dB (range -12.40 to 2.30). The difference in MD was not statistically significant (p=0.99). The difference between the PSD before the surgery (mean 27.80+33.62 dB, range 3.0 to 148.70dB) and PSD after the surgery (mean 26.94+26.86 dB, range 4.40 to 113.60dB) was not statistically significant either (p=0.58).
Conclusions:
Phacoemulsification in patients with nuclear sclerotic type of cataract and POAG does not change visual field indices if perimetry is performed within a two year period before and after surgery. Therefore visual field examination is valuable test to monitor glaucoma progression in patients with nuclear sclerotic cataract.
Financial Disclosure:
None
