GLAUCOMA CAPSULARE

(ROLE OF FILTRATION SURGERY)

Abstract

Purpose of Study: To emphasize the role of filtration surgery in the treatment of glaucoma capsulare. Moreover the study
also highlights the importance of thorough ocular examination and diagnosis as the condition is likely to be missed. Material, M e t h o d s and
Results: This study was conducted to find out the results of filtration surgery (trabeculectomy) in such cases. Forty cases with pseudoexfoliation
glaucoma presenting in the Dept of Ophthalmology PAF Hospital Mushaf Sargodha were included. These patients were initially treated with
topical medications for three months. Thirty cases that showed poor response to drugs were operated upon and a trabeculectomy was
performed. Postoperative pressure readings were recorded twice weekly for the first two months and then once monthly for four months. After
a follow-up of six months, twenty five cases (83.33%) were effectively controlled without any added medications whereas five cases (16.67%)
required addition of a single drug to achieve the desired effect. Conclusion: The response to medical treatment is generally not satisfactory
and surgery has to be undertaken as a final resort. Trabeculectomy is the safe and effective operation in glaucoma capsulare (pseudoexfoliation
glaucoma).