Primary angle closure glaucoma: extracapsular cataract extraction or filtering procedure?

An extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with posterior-chamber-IOL was performed in 21 eyes of 20 patients with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG; 2 suspects, 5 acute PACG, 14 chronic PACG). The ECCE was performed to improve the IOP. In 14 cases the ECCE was done in lieu of a filtering procedure. After the ECCE the anterior chamber deepened. The mean IOP was reduced from 31 mmHg preoperative to 16 mmHg postoperative. Only 5 eyes needed additional medication after the ECCE. The IOP was reduced even if extensive peripheral anterior synechiae were diagnosed or after failed filtering procedures. The only temporary complication was the IOP-peak in the immediate postoperative period. It is concluded that an ECCE with PC-IOL should be seriously considered as the procedure of choice in PACG instead of a filtering procedure (or instead of a combined procedure).