Intraocular pressure trends after supranormal pressurization to aid closure of sutureless cataract wounds.
OBJECTIVE
To measure intraocular pressure (IOP) immediately and 25 minutes after small sutureless cataract surgery to estimate the duration of any elevation and to evaluate the relationship between supranormal pressurization and an elevated IOP 24 hours postoperatively.


METHODS
Routine outpatient cataract surgery at a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Thirty-six consecutive eyes that had uneventful phacoemulsification cataract extraction were studied in a prospective fashion. Supranormal pressurization was attempted in all cases. Surgery was performed through a 3.5 mm scleral wound.


RESULTS
Mean IOP dropped from 38.8 mm Hg +/- 11.4 (SD) to 19.8 +/- 5.3 mm Hg 25 minutes after the surgery (P < .0001). A subgroup of patients (n = 6) whose IOP was greater than 24 mm Hg 24 hours postoperatively had a pressure drop from 36.8 +/- 12.3 mm Hg to 23.2 +/- 6.2 mm Hg 25 minutes postoperatively (P = .051). In this subgroup, the mean 24 hour IOP then rose to 30.8 +/- 5.2 mm Hg (P = .043). Another subgroup of patients (n = 7) whose IOP was greater than 24 mm Hg at 25 minutes had a pressure drop from 46.3 +/- 8.5 mm Hg to 27.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg (P = .0014), falling to 21.7 +/- 6.6 mm Hg at 24 hours (P = .018).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate the rapid decline of IOP after supranormal pressurization at the conclusion of cataract surgery. In addition, supranormal pressurization did not seem to contribute to IOP elevation at 24 hours.
Rhee
D J
DJ
Cataract and Primary Eye Care Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Deramo
V A
VA
Connolly
B P
BP
Blecher
M H
MH
D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012965:Sodium Chloride