Visual field behavior after intra-ocular surgery in glaucoma patients with advanced defects

Abstract

Fifty advanced glaucoma patients with central visual field islands were evaluated before and after intra-ocular surgery with respect to visual acuity and visual field behavior. Thirteen patients underwent a cataract extraction, and 37 a filtering procedure. Visual acuity generally improved to a certain extent after lens extraction, and deteriorated after filtering surgery. For both groups the visual field island became somewhat larger with respect to the surface area, but the foveal value was usually lower after the operation. There was no clear relationship between visual acuity and foveal values or the surface area of the central island. One patient suffered unexplained loss of central vision.