Angle widening, intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and a decrease in the number of glaucoma medications are all significant benefits of cataract surgery for primary angle closure hypertension patients, according researchers.

The India-based team used preoperative biometry (including axial length), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness and central corneal thickness to evaluate 18 eyes of 18 patients. Primary angle closure hypertension, the authors say, is more common in India than in the West. They also looked into pre- and postoperative IOP, number of topical glaucoma medications, angle swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) parameters of nasal and temporal angle opening distance, trabecular iris space area, scleral spur angle, lens vault and circumferential iridotrabecular contact (ITC).

Their findings showed the procedure resulted in significant changes. The mean preoperative IOP was 31mm Hg (±6mm Hg). Six months after surgery, that decreased to 14mm Hg (±1mm Hg). The mean number of glaucoma medications was four preoperatively; that dropped to two after. Significant angle widening was also noted following surgery. The research also showed moderate positive correlation with percentage fall in IOP at one-month postoperative.