The development of cataract following trabeculectomy

Objective—To determine the risk of cataract development following trabeculectomy.Design—A prospective follow-up study of patients seen pre-operatively and at one, three, six and 12 months following surgery and subsequently at yearly intervals.Setting—Ophthalmology Department of Nottingham University Hospital.Patients—Fifty-seven patients with primary open angle glaucoma, including pseudoexfoliation, undergoing trabeculectomy.Main outcome measures—Increases in lens opacity measured by the Lens Opacity Meter 701, the Keeler Projectoscope and clinical grading.Results—Of 35 patients seen at six months post-operatively, none had lost two Snellen lines of visual acuity due to lens opacity, although three patients showed evidence of increasing lens opacity on all three parameters.Conclusion—There is no evidence of visually significant lens opacity occurring at six months post-operative follow-up.