Glaucoma after congenital cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To study eyes that manifested glaucoma after congenital cataract surgery and to identify factors that might lead to better diagnosis and treatment of such glaucoma.

DESIGN

A retrospective review of patients treated for glaucoma that developed after congenital cataract surgery.

RESULTS

Sixty-four eyes of 38 patients were studied. Open-angle glaucoma was the more frequent type of glaucoma (51 eyes, 79.7%). Glaucoma was diagnosed a mean interval of 12.2 years after cataract surgery, but it could occur at any time from months to decades after the cataract surgery. Medications alone were successful in intraocular pressure control in 21 (63.6%) of 33 eyes, and additional surgical procedures resulted in successful intraocular pressure control in 11 of 14 eyes in which they were performed.

CONCLUSION

The authors cannot predict in which eyes glaucoma will develop after surgery for congenital cataracts. Once detected, the glaucoma can be treated successfully in the majority of cases. Careful follow-up, including examinations with the patient sedated or anesthetized as needed, is required.