Clinical profile of lens induced glaucoma patients in a tertiary care centre- A prospective study

Introduction: Lens Induced Glaucoma (LIG) is one of commonest cause of secondary glaucoma due to senile cataracts. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of LIG following cataract surgery. Objective: To determine the frequency, types, the clinical presentations, management and outcome of lens-induced glaucoma (LIG). Materials and Methods: It was a prospective observational study which was done at Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, from July 2012 to June 2013. Patients who attended out-patient department (OPD) of this hospital with LIG were admitted for conservative management followed by cataract surgery. Demographic data, clinical presentations, management and outcome were recorded and analysed. Results: The age of presentation of LIG was varied ranging from 31 years to 85 years. The study had female preponderance (53.7%). The major type of LIG was phacolytic glaucoma (53.8%). All the patients had pain and watering in the eyes and decreased vision during admission. Most patients (31 eyes) were presented with visual acuity of hand movements (57.4%) and intraocular pressure more than 40 mm Hg (61.1%). Most of the patients (75.9%) underwent manual small incision cataract surgery (M-SICS) with posterior chamber lens (PCIOL) implantation. Reduced Intraocular pressure (IOP) after complete follow up was 15.2 mm Hg and most of the patients (75.9%) had their post-operative best corrected visual acuity more than 6/36 after completed follow up. Conclusion: Cataract surgery was the most important effective mode of lowering IOP and visual recovery in patients with lens induced glaucoma. Public awareness and early detection by house physician is important for an early intervention which aids IOP control and visual recovery in LIG.