Preexisting primary glaucoma and intraocular lenses.

Intraocular lens implantation into cataractous eyes that also suffer from primary glaucoma is a rewarding procedure. The need for an IOL in these eyes is even stronger than in otherwise healthy cataractous eyes. With prepupillary IOLs there was a strong reason first to control surgically intraocular pressure prior to cataract surgery with IOL implantation. The advent of retropupillary IOLs has dramatically changed this attitude. Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and the use of an all-in-the-bag retropupillary IOL is the method of choice. Postoperative medical treatment remains possible as does surgical treatment for the glaucoma. The procedure is suitable for open-angle glaucoma as well as for narrow-angle glaucoma.