Combined Glaucoma and Cataract: An Overview

Abstract

Glaucoma and cataract frequently coexist in our elderly population regardless of geographical location or ethnicity. Cataract extraction alone has demonstrated to reduce intraocular pressure in eyes either with or without glaucoma. However, this chapter focuses on how cataract surgery might be combined with different glaucoma surgical procedures, such as trabeculectomy, non-penetrating procedures and minimally invasive procedures (MIGS), as well as implantation of drainage devices like the Trabectome ® and the iStent ® , both used for trabecular flow increase; the CyPass ® implant, which acts by increasing the uveoscleral flow; the XEN ® implant that facilitates the drainage of the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the subconjunctival space and finally the endocyclophotocoagulation that decreases the aqueous humor production. Current surgical options will be discussed, focusing on recently reported studies, analyzing the clinical aspects that influence the choice for each surgical treatment.