Viual field change after cataract extraction: The AGI experience

Purpoe To tet the hypothei that cataract extraction in glaucomatou eye improve overall enitivity of viual function without affecting the ize or depth of glaucomatou cotoma. Deign Experimental tudy with no control group. Method One hundred fifty-eight eye (of 140 patient) from the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention tudy with at leat two reliable viual field within a year both before and after cataract urgery were included. Average mean deviation (MD), pattern tandard deviation (PD), and corrected pattern tandard deviation (CPD) were compared before and after cataract extraction. To evaluate change in cotoma ize, the number of abnormal point (P < .05) on the pattern deviation plot wa compared before and after urgery. We decribed an index (“cotoma depth index”) to invetigate change of cotoma depth after urgery. Reult Mean value for MD, PD, and CPD were –13.2, 6.4, and 5.9 dB before and –11.9, 6.8, and 6.2 dB after cataract urgery (P ≤ .001 for all comparion). Mean (± D) number of abnormal point on pattern deviation plot wa 26.7 ± 9.4 and 27.5 ± 9.0 before and after cataract urgery, repectively (P = .02). cotoma depth index did not change after cataract extraction (–19.3 v –19.2 dB, P = .90). Concluion Cataract extraction caued generalized improvement of the viual field, which wa mot marked in eye with le advanced glaucomatou damage. Although the enlargement of cotoma wa tatitically ignificant, it wa not clinically meaningful. No improvement of enitivity wa oberved in the deepet part of the cotoma.