Cataract with Glaucoma Clinical Challenge

When glaucoma interferes with vision improvement goals
  • White checkmark inside a white circle on a black background.

    Clinical challenge

    When cataract and glaucoma coexist, patients often seek care for cloudy vision from cataracts, while gradual vision loss from glaucoma may go unnoticed until advanced stages. Approximately 20% of cataract patients also have glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

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    Clinical solution

    To determine if glaucoma affects a patient's vision improvement expectations and long-term vision related quality of life, it's essential to identify the glaucoma type, disease stage, and establish appropriate treatment plan.

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    ZEISS solution

    ZEISS Glaucoma Workflow provides end-to-end solution for diagnosing monitoring, and treating glaucoma, including laser therapy and surgical options. The linked ZEISS Cataract Workflow improves outcomes for patients with both conditions.

“…and you can imagine the patients surprise, shock, disappointment and sadness ​when they have their cataract surgery and realize, ​

  • they don't regain as much vision as they want,
  • the vision they've lost is irreversible, and
  • they may have not had the most appropriate lens in their eye for their whole situation taken together.”​

Dr. Matthew Schlenker ​
Glaucoma and Anterior Segment Specialist, Toronto Western Hospital, Canada

Step - Assess

Clinical Challenge: identify glaucoma types and risk factors

  • Slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy in cataract patients can detect glaucoma damage by evaluating the optic nerve and neuroretinal rim's size, color, and integrity.
  • Assessing anterior chamber aids in defining glaucoma type and recognizing “high-risk” eyes before cataract surgery.
  • Measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) before cataract procedure improves surgical care and supports long-term follow-up.

Solutions available from ZEISS:

“can be gained due to the TrueView Optics and VarioLight illumination of ZEISS SL 800.“ Ike Ahmed, MD, Prism Eye Institute, Canada
Ike Ahmed, MD in a white lab coat sits beside an ophthalmic examination device in a clinical setting, with an eye image displayed on a screen in the background.
“With one hand, we can change the rheostat and lock the slit lamp as well. This is helpful to allow the other hand to do various maneuvers and to have one hand controlling the microscope itself.“ Ike Ahmed, MD, Prism Eye Institute, Canada
Four images showing eye examinations using slit lamps and close-up eye imaging performed by healthcare professionals.
can be obtained using the Anterior Imaging Module of ZEISS CIRRUS 6000.
Cross-sectional image of a human eye showing corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and other measured dimensions marked with blue lines and numerical values.
The ZEISS AT 030 tonometer mounts on the ZEISS SL 800, allowing other slit lamp extensions.
High-precision ophthalmic slit lamp microscope with integrated camera and adjustable components mounted on a table.
Portrait of Kerry Solomon, MD

ZEISS’ biggest secret / surprise for anterior segment surgeons… ZEISS CIRRUS has full anterior imaging and quantification capability. So for folks who already have a ZEISS CIRRUS, you may already have the ability to perform epithelial thickness mapping (or upgrade your software to enable it).

Kerry Solomon, MD

Step - Plan

Clinical challenge: a plan for prompt and effective treatment

  • Glaucoma is a progressive disease that can negatively impact cataract surgery outcomes. Patient expectations, glaucoma type, and progression rate are key factors in selecting IOLs.
  • Combined structure-function analysis of OCT and visual field data enables earlier, faster and more accurate detection of glaucoma deterioration that can be treated before or during the cataract surgery.
ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace integrates diverse data from ZEISS CIRRUS OCT, HFA perimetry, CLARUS fundus images, and IOP values for simplified visualization. In Progression Summary, the software highlights glaucoma changes across 5 test modes.
Progression summary table displaying eye examination data for both eyes (OD and OS), including test types, results indicators, and corresponding visit dates.
For evaluation before and after cataract surgery, ZEISS CIRRUS 6000 offers retina assessment, angle evaluation, and pachymetry in one device. ZEISS CIRRUS 6000 glaucoma analytics with GPA and an extended reference database, tailors glaucoma management to patient conditions.
Image showing corneal epithelial thickness maps, topographical heat maps, and a cross-sectional OCT scan of the eye with precise thickness measurements.
The Guided Progression Analysis (GPA) of ZEISS HFA, the only FDA-approved method for assessing visual field loss progression, guides treatment decisions and estimates prognosis for vision-related quality of life.​
ZEISS medical diagnostic device with a display screen showing test results, positioned in the foreground of a clinical setting with three people conversing in the background.

What rates of HVF progression in glaucoma are clinically relevant?

”The fast progressors…those are the ones that are at high risk of going blind. If you have the MD change of -1.5 up to -2 decibels per year and -5% to -10% the equivalent in VFI, this is very fast, you should do something”.

Dr. Marta Pazos, Barcelona, Spain

  • FAST progresssors

    MD change of -1.5 or -2 dB/year
    VFI change of -5 to – 10%/year

  • CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT rate of progression

    Rate of progression that could lead to a high risk of future visual impairment for the patient.

  • FACTORS to be considered

    Life expectancy.
    Severity of disease.
    Presence of known risk factors.
    Everyday activities.

ZEISS solution: personalized glaucoma management

  • Observing differences in glaucoma progression is critical for individual vision health.

    “It is important to evaluate the risk of disease progression and the likely rate of visual field loss. If we base our treatment decision on how each patient has done structurally and functionally, we are making a truly individualized risk assessment and measure prediction of vision related quality of life.”

    Dr. Pilar Casas De Llera

  • Observing differences in glaucoma progression is critical for individual vision health.

    "First, we want to have an accurate diagnosis of glaucoma. We need to stage the disease and then to assess the likelihood of progression. Depending on all these factors we will make the decision about what intraocular lens we should implant in each individual case."

    Dr. Roberto Fernández Buenaga

  • Observing differences in glaucoma progression is critical for individual vision health.

    “This new RDB2 for ZEISS CIRRUS 6000 tripled the number of subjects…The larger the reference database the higher confidence the practitioner has in the results that given to them by the analysis of the OCT device.“

    Dr. Michael Chalglasian

  • Observing differences in glaucoma progression is critical for individual vision health.

    “Before the surgery, if you use the visual field to explain to them what they can expect after the surgery, it will have a lot less trouble or complaint after the surgery with that patient.”

    Dr. Manchima Makornwattana

Step - Treat

Clinical challenge (a): treat glaucoma prior to cataract surgery

  • For a glaucoma patient with cataract, treatment depends on glaucoma severity, visual field loss rate, cataract maturity, and overall health.
  • Pre-emptive SLT can reduce postoperative IOP spikes and medication dependency.
The ZEISS VISULAS® combi therapeutic laser, integrates photodisruption, photocoagulation, and selective photothermolysis without requiring lengthy adjustments or patient relocation, as the ZEISS VISULAS combi settings screen shows.
User interface screen showing therapy selection for glaucoma, applicator as slit lamp, and treatment method as Selective (SLT) with options for contact lens and surgeon configuration.
ZEISS SLT offers enhanced homogeneity, simplified titration, and better visibility of the trabecular meshwork. The laser energy selection is based on pigmentation that assists with reduction in unnecessary energy delivery.
Visualization of a high-resolution laser beam interacting with tissue or material structure, with an inset showing a magnified view through a medical imaging device.
Storing SLT treatment reports in ZEISS FORUM enhances clinical workflow efficiency. The VISULAS workstation can access ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace to review diagnostic data and monitor glaucoma treatment effects
ZEISS medical interface displaying a glaucoma treatment report with laser parameters, therapy details, and a circular diagram indicating treated eye areas.

Clinical challenge (b): combined glaucoma and cataract procedures

When the patient has coexistent glaucoma and cataract, a personalized approach should be taken.1

  • In cases with angle closure glaucoma, phacoemulsification can be effective for reducing IOP based on the EAGLE trial2​
  • Phacoemulsification and glaucoma surgery can be combined for certain types of glaucoma patients to lower IOP and reduce the number of medications.

Intraoperative OCT in cataract and glaucoma procedures can help surgeons to observe surgical maneuvers in retina tissue and visualize devices during implant placement.

A first study showed a shorter total procedure time of QUATERA 700 compared to two competitive devices. Investigators graded intra-operative chamber stability was higher than for the two other systems.3
The ZEISS ARTEVO® 850 microscope integrates intraoperative OCT with visualization, adjustable for cataract, glaucoma or combined surgeries.
Medical imaging equipment with monitors displaying a detailed image of an eye, set up in a clean, modern clinical environment.

ZEISS solution: efficiency in glaucoma diagnosis, therapy, and surgery

  • Digital integration of diagnostics and treatment boosts workflow efficiency

    ...from patient prep and procedure to post-treatment assessment.

    “Integration of SLT with ZEISS FORUM means efficiency of our clinical workflow and the convenience of confirming the SLT results in front of the patient at the point of treatment.”

    Dr. Pilar Casas De Llera

  • Digital integration of diagnostics and treatment boosts workflow efficiency

    …from patient prep and procedure to post-treatment assessment.

    “The ZEISS QUATERA has been almost transformative in how I do cataract surgery...One of the things that’s really nice about the ZEISS QUATERA unit, it allows us to remove cataracts in patients with shallow anterior chambers.”

    Dr. Steven Vold

  • Digital integration of diagnostics and treatment boosts workflow efficiency

    …from patient prep and procedure to post-treatment assessment.

    “The ZEISS ARTEVO enhances the experience with its impressive 3-D viewing system and optics, supporting precise surgery.” 

    Dr. Matthew Schlenker

  • Digital integration of diagnostics and treatment boosts workflow efficiency

    …from patient prep and procedure to post-treatment assessment.

    “One of the things I just love about this ZEISS LUMERA and ZEISS ARTEVO technologies right here is we have unbelievable visualization. And for somebody who's six foot four like me, it's really much easier on my back and my neck.” 

    Dr. Steven Vold

Step - Check

Clinical challenge: meet expectations for vision-related quality of life

  • Cataract surgery improves vision by removing a cloudy lens but doesn't cure glaucoma.
  • Careful evaluation, realistic expectations, meticulous surgery, and diligent follow-up can ensure patient satisfaction.
  • Patient data coming from multiple testing and treatment stations can be easily accessed via ZEISS FORUM®, a scalable and flexible ophthalmic data management platform that digitally connects all the workflow steps (Assess, Plan, Treat, Check) and links Glaucoma and Cataract workflows.
HFA3, CIRRUS and CLARUS devices deliver DICOM data into ZEISS FORUM for analysis in ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace. The SL-800 slit lamp and VISULAS laser from ZEISS transfer images and reports to ZEISS FORUM via Imaging Solution software. ZEISS solution from Dr. Pilar Casa De Llera perspective.
A medical professional shows an elderly patient diagnostic images on a computer screen in a clinical setting.
Multiple generations of ZEISS CIRRUS and HFA data can be used together in GPA, assuring full data continuity. ZEISS solution from Dr. Manchima Makornwattana perspective.
A medical professional in scrubs works at a dual-monitor computer station with ZEISS equipment in a clinical setting.

ZEISS Solution: continuous glaucoma care before and after intervention

  • Integrating ZEISS CIRRUS and HFA data in GPA

    …to ensure ongoing glaucoma management and prevent vision loss.

    “Glaucoma is a long-life disease and patients at first have no symptoms at all. So, if the patient doesn't know or isn't concerned about the problem at an early stage, they're going to have a problem which is permanent damage and irreversible.”

    Dr. Manchima Makornwattana

  • Integrating ZEISS CIRRUS and HFA data in GPA

    …to ensure ongoing glaucoma management and prevent vision loss.

    “Let's say … we're able to stabilize this patient through either conservative measures or surgical measures. At that point, it's time to reset the baseline because we know that we have a better control of the patient's glaucoma. And we can do that right on ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace, right in front of the patient.“

    Dr. Matthew Schlenker

  • Integrating ZEISS CIRRUS and HFA data in GPA

    …to ensure ongoing glaucoma management and prevent vision loss.

    “…We do believe that with the cataract surgery only…it will reopen the angle, make the eye pressure lower without doing anything more. And then we evaluate her again."

    Dr. Manchima Makornwattana

  • Integrating ZEISS CIRRUS and HFA data in GPA

    …to ensure ongoing glaucoma management and prevent vision loss.

    “Laser treatments and minimal invasive glaucoma surgery will be the treatment of choice of these new generation of patients diagnosed early in the course of their disease. Regardless, glaucoma patients will need to be monitored for disease progression…Tools like ZEISS Glaucoma Workplace will help us in the management of such an increase of number of patients.”

    Dr. Pilar Casas De Lliera

Watch your peers addressing the challenge of coexistent glaucoma and cataract

  • Dr. Matthew Schlenker, Glaucoma and Anterior Segment Specialist, Toronto Western Hospital, Canada

    Glaucoma journey from catching progression to surgical visualization.

  • Dr. Manchima Makornwattana, Glaucoma and Cataract Specialist, Thammasat Univ. Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

    Challenges of angle closure glaucoma and the importance of the human touch.

  • Dr. Steven Vold, Glaucoma and Cataract Specialists, Vold Vision, Fayetteville, USA

    Making surgical decisions for glaucoma comorbid cataract patients.

  • Dr. Pilar Casas de Llera and Dr. Roberto Fernández Buenaga
    Fernández Casas Oftalmólogos, Torrelavega, Spain

    A bond of excellence: integrating glaucoma and cataract care.

Contact your sales specialist to learn about ZEISS Glaucoma Workflow's comprehensive solutions.

Diagnosing, monitoring, and treating glaucoma, including laser and surgical options

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