Cataract Lens Implants and Glaucoma

It was suggested at the American Glaucoma Society Meeting that patients with Cataracts who are considering Cataract Surgery with multifocal lens implants (IOL)s and who also have Glaucoma need to have a careful and thoughtful discussion with their Cataract Surgeon. Glaucoma damages the retinal nerve fiber layer and the optic nerve and in doing so can negatively affect contrast sensitivity. Depending on the type of multifocal lens used, it is possible to create an additive effect of contrast loss for the patient. Further, there is little understanding of the performance of these IOLs in patients with Glaucoma who have a visual field loss. Thus, selection of a multifocal lens for vision correction after cataract Surgery in patients with Glaucoma requires a careful evaluation by the cataract Surgeon and a detailed discussion with the patient.