Treatment is considered successful and glaucoma is considered under control when the intraocular pressure is reduced and vision is stabilized. Another way to evaluate treatment outcome is by comparing the number of medications needed to control intraocular pressure before and after the surgery. When surgery effectively lowers pressure, fewer medications are needed. Also, prevention of visual loss and further damage to the optic nerve can be used as measures for the success of treatment. For combined glaucoma and cataract surgery, outcome may be measured by reduced intraocular pressure, vision improvement and improvement in quality of life.
Visual improvement is determined by how far down the eye chart a patient can read after surgery.
If people can function and perform their normal and desired activities better after surgery than before, they have gained improvement in their quality of life. However, serious complications are very rare. Reducing risks prior to surgery may help to prevent complications. For example, someone who has diabetic retinopathy as well as glaucoma and cataracts may decrease the risk of complications by first undergoing laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Once the diabetic retinopathy is managed, combined surgery can be performed to remove the cataract and control intraocular pressure.