Changes in intraocular pressure following phacoemulsification

ABSTRACT

To observe the difference in IOP that occurs before and after phacoemulsification surgery. A six month study was conducted at Department of Ophthalmology, Unit A, Khyber Teaching Hospital/ Khyber Medical College, Peshawar. Total number of 38 eyes were operated upon. Intraocular pressure was recorded using a Goldmann tonometer. One reading was taken one day before the scheduled operation and the second reading a day after. Universal II model from Alcon[registered sign] Surgical was used in the trial. Types of viscoelastic and IOL were also noted. Based on preoperative [pre-op] and postoperative [post-op] intraocular pressure, they were placed in 2 groups Within the 2 groups, the increase in IOP was statistically significant 24 hours after surgery. Between the groups, the difference was highly significant [P =.003], as determined by Pearson's Correlation test. The increase in IOP was higher in the Viscoat group, 14.28%, as compared to the Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [HPMC] group, 7.14%. Mean IOP was 14.71 mmHg after surgery as compared to 12.42 mmHg preoperatively. Out of 38 patients 4 [10.5%] had pressures above 20 mmHg. The transient increase in post-op IOP was highly significant 24 hours after surgery in cases where HPMC and Viscoat were used. In cases where Provisc was used no significant elevation of IOP was noted