Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the combined surgery of glaucoma and cataract.

Methods: We reviewed 260 consecutive cases (279 eyes) who underwent the combined procedure of glaucoma and cataract. The patients were divided into three groups: group 1: extracapsular cataract extraction combined with trabeculectomy; group 2: extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation combined with trabeculectomy; group 3: cataract phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation combined with trabeculectomy; We analyzed and compared the postoperative visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure(IOP) and complications among three groups.

Results: 16.2%, 32.4% and 43.5% of patients in three groups achieved 0.3 or better VA. The VA improved rate were 46.6%, 70.4% and 78.3% respectively. The mean postoperative IOP of three groups were 12.72 +/- 6.66 mmHg(1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), 13.01 +/- 5.26 mmHg, 12.63 +/- 4.66 mmHg(compared with preoperative IOP, P < 0.01). The complications of group 3 were much less than those of the other two groups.

Conclusions: The combined surgery can control the IOP effectively; The triple procedure can improve the VA rapidly and the phacoemulsification technique can decrease the complications.