Posters

Understanding intraocular pressure changes during phacoemulsification: an in vivo study

Poster Details

First Author: A.Franchini ITALY

Co Author(s):    I. Franchini   F. Franco   L. Finocchio        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To measure intracular pressure (IOP) levels and fluctuactions in vivo during phacoemulsification.

Setting:

Eye Institute - University of Florence

Methods:

Continuous IOP measurement was performed in three groups of 20 patients. In group 1 a standard coaxial phaco procedure (SCP), in group 2 a micro incision coaxial phaco (C-MICS) and in group 3 bimanual micro incision cataract surgery (B-MICS) were performed. To measure IOP the Codman Microsensor ICP Transducer was adopted

Results:

Results show that a very high level of intraocular tension is reached during surgery and remains so for several seconds. The average amount of time during which the tension remained above 60 mmHg was 106 ± 24 sec in the SCP group, 112 ± 16 sec in the MCP group and 141 ± 36 in the BIM group (SCP vs MCP - P= 0.12, SCP vs BIM - P<0.01, MCP vs BIM - P<0.001 ). The percentage of the surgical time during which the tension remained above 60 mmHg was 41.5% in the case of SCP patients, 45.5% in MCP patients and 43% in BIM patients (42% for the whole material ).

Conclusions:

The results obtained in this study show that the problem of surgical intraocular hypertension during cataract surgery is present in all patients regardless the technique adopted. If we consider the different surgical phases analyzed , only limited statistical differences can be found in the results obtained in the three groups of patients. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE