Effect of bilateral sequential cataract extraction on intraocular pressure in non-glaucomatous Asian eyes

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Glaucoma

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 09:30-11:00

Paper Time: 10:40

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 4

First Author: : W.Ngo SINGAPORE

Co Author(s): :    C. Tan              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To determine the effect of cataract extraction on intraocular pressure (IOP) of both eyes in patients undergoing sequential cataract extractions. A secondary aim was to compare the IOP lowering effect of phacoemulsification to that of extra-capsular cataract extraction in non-glaucomatous eyes.

Setting:

Tertiary Ophthalmology referral centre in central Singapore.

Methods:

Retrospective review of 116 consecutive non-glaucomatous patients who underwent sequential cataract extractions of bilateral eyes. Baseline and post-surgical IOP measurements of eyes after cataract extraction were reviewed. Post-surgical IOP of the first surgical eye was compared to the IOP of the (un-operated) second eye. Post-surgical IOP measurements of eyes with phacoemulsification performed were also compared against those which had extra-capsular cataract extraction performed.

Results:

Pre-surgery, there was no significant difference between the mean IOP of both eyes (15.4±2.6 mmHg vs. 15.2±2.5 mmHg, p=0.22). After surgery, mean IOP in the 1st surgical eye decreased to 14.0±3.1 mmHg at 1 month (p≤0.001), there was sustained and statistically significant (p≤0.001) decrease in IOP for 2 years. Mean decrease in IOP ranged from 1.6 (8.6%) - 2.3 mmHg (14.0%). The IOP in the fellow (non-surgical) eye remained unchanged. Subsequently, cataract surgery to the fellow eye resulted in a decrease in IOP to a level similar to that of the previously operated eye, which was similarly sustained.

Conclusions:

There is sustained decrease in IOP after cataract extraction in non-glaucomatous eyes. This decrease is of greater magnitude in eyes with higher pre-surgical IOP and is not affected by the type of surgery performed. The effect of IOP decrease after surgery is unilateral and does not affect the fellow eye.

Financial Interest:

One of the authors travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a competing company