role of peripheral iridectomy in prevention of secondary glaucoma after paediatric cataract surgery

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the role of peripheral iridectomy [PI] alter irrigation/aspiration [I/A] and posterior chamber intraocular lens [PCIOL] implantation in paediatric cataract and its efficiency as a preventive measure against secondary glaucoma occurring post-operatively. The study was conducted as retrospective review for sixty four eyes of forty four patients operated for paediatric cataract at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Cairo, during the period from 2004-2006. All patients were selected as isolated congenital or traumatic cataract. After initial detailed evaluation including IOP measurement and surgery performancc, postoperative follow-up was done for a period of 1-3 years. Results retrieved during the early postoperative period [up to one month] showed significant difference of IOP rise in cases without PI rather than when PI was performed. The long-term follow-up showed that after one month from the surgery, there were no difference in the rate of occurrence of IOP rise between those who performed PI and those who did not. Peripheral iridectomy was found to be effective in prevention of early onset glaucoma, which is usually of the pupillary block type. In late onset glaucoma, peripheral iridectomy did not prove to be effective as the pathology of this type of glaucoma is usually of the open angle type