ABSTRACT
The common occurrence of cataracts and glaucoma makes surgery combined to address both problems appealing. With improvements in both cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery, combined procedures have increased in popularity. The main benefit of a combined procedure is that the patient might undergo only one operation. Furthermore, a combined procedure may reduce the risk of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes and provide better long-term IOP control than if cataract surgery alone is performed. Trabeculectomy has remained the gold standard for glaucoma surgery. However, this procedure poses many risks that can potentially decrease vision and cause chronic irritation. Some of the risks of trabeculectomy alone include hypotony, blebitis, endophthalmitis, flat anterior chambers, and choroidal detachments. Additional risks with combined trabeculectomy and cataract surgery include hyphema, posterior synechiae, and pupillary capture. In addition, trabeculectomy when combined with cataract surgery is more apt to fail than if done alone.
