Early postoperative intraocular pressure elevation after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Combined Cataract Surgery & Cataract Surgery Complications

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : I.Pivic-Kovacevic CROATIA

Co Author(s): :    S. Matić   J. Barać   M. Jelić Vuković                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To analyse early postoperative intraocular pressure elevation after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Setting:

This retrospective cohort study included 100 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Centre Osijek from November 2018. Exclusion criteria were primary or secondary glaucoma of any etiology.

Methods:

All participants underwent complete ophthalmological examination preoperatively. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was determined using Snellen charts. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) as a golden standard for IOP measurements. The corrected IOP values obtained by ultrasonic (US) pachymetry ≤ 22 mmHg were determined as normal. IOP was measured on day before surgery, the first day after the surgery and one month after the surgery. IOP elevation in early postoperative period was detected as important risk factor for development of secondary glaucoma in early postoperative period after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Results:

Study included 100 participants, of whom 35 males (35%) and 65 females (65%). All of participants preoperatively had normal IOP. Average  IOP preoperatively was 15 mmHg (Friedman test, p<0,001). 19 participants (19%) had increased IOP levels measured on first day after the surgery. Maximum measured IOP was 38 mmHg, respectively. Also,  9 participants (9%) had increased IOP one month after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Maximum value of IOP was 30 mmHg, respectively (Fisher exact test, p= 0,001). One month after the surgery a significant lowering of IOP from 19% to 9% was noticed ( McNemar test, p= 0,011).

Conclusions:

The study confirmed that early IOP elevation after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery in patients without previous glaucoma had low incidence the first day and one month after the surgery. The first day after surgery incidence of IOP elevation was 19%, and 9% one month after the  surgery. Early postoperative IOP elevation is transitory in majority cases. It is of a big importance detecting all patients under risk of secondary glaucoma development. In this study, only 9 participants developed secondary glaucoma after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery but all were successfully controlled with topical antiglaucoma therapy.

Financial Disclosure:

None