Heavier molecular weight ocular viscoelastic devices and timing of post-operative review following cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: To assess the safety of abandoning the next day post-operative review in preference for assessment only 2 hours post-surgery for both phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery with heavier molecular weight ocular viscoelastic devices (OVD). METHODS: 475 patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery using heavier molecular weight ocular viscoelastic device (Healon GV) were studied. Of these 415 were phacoemulsification and 60 extracapsular and none received Intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering prophylaxis at the end of surgery. All were examined at 2 hours post-surgery and on the following day. Results were tabulated and analysed assessing wound stability, corneal clarity, anterior chamber reaction and IOP. RESULTS: In the time between the two assessments 44 (10.6%) patients developed a total of 53 new problems, with a majority being increases in IOP. Based on the lower threshold of IOP of 30 mmHg, the incidence of new problems at the next-day assessment was 9.8% (95% CI: 7.0 to 13.6) in the phacoemulsification group and 16.3% (7.3 to 29.7)in the extracapsular surgery group. At the higher threshold of IOP of 35 mmHg the corresponding figures were 6.6% and 16.3%. CONCLUSION: There is a higher incidence of new problems at the next-day assessment than previous studies with conventional OVD. Therefore results from previous studies using standard OVDs cannot be simply extrapolated to heavier molecular weight OVDs. When these agents are used, routine use of an ocular hypotensive agent may be necessary to increase the safety of abandoning the review on the first post-operative day for phacoemulsification patients. This is to be studied.

Intraocular pressure changes and the implications on patient review after phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To determine the pattern of intraocular pressure (IOP) change postoperatively and its bearing on the timing of postoperative review. SETTING: Ophthalmology department of a district general hospital, Northamptonshire, England. METHODS: One hundred eyes of 100 consecutive patients having uneventful phacoemulsification were included in this study. The IOP was measured preoperatively and 2 hours, 1 day, and 1 week postoperatively. The IOP readings were statistically analyzed using the Fisher exact probability test. RESULTS: From 1 week before surgery, there was a mean rise in IOP of 8.14 mm Hg 2 hours after surgery followed by a mean fall of 5.18 mm Hg at 24 hours (next-day review). The mean fall in IOP at 1 week was 2.94 mm Hg. Ten percent of patients had an IOP greater than or equal to 35 mm Hg 2 hours postoperatively and required oral IOP-lowering agents. All patients had an IOP lower than 35 mm Hg at the next-day review. At 1 day, 18.6% of patients had a higher IOP than at 2 hours; however, the mean IOP was 21.39 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: The results show it is safe to review patients 2 hours after uneventful phacoemulsification and omit the next-day review. This enhances patient acceptance of true day-case cataract surgery as it eliminates the need for an inpatient stay and transport on the following day. It also improves utilization of hospital resources. A larger study will help confirm the conclusions of this study.