Effect of intracameral carbachol on intraocular pressure following clear corneal phacoemulsification.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of 0.01% carbachol on early intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract extraction with phacoemulsification.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients who underwent cataract extraction with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were prospectively randomly assigned to one of two groups. Twenty-seven patients were given 0.5 ml carbachol intracamerally (carbachol group); the other 24 patients were given the same amount of balanced salt solution intracamerally (control group). IOPs were measured by Goldmann applantation tonometry on the day before surgery, and at 8 h, 24 h and 7 days post-operatively.


RESULTS
There was no difference between the mean IOPs of the groups pre-operatively (p > 0.5). All the mean post-operative IOP values of the carbachol group were lower than those of the control group. At 8 and 24 h post-operatively the mean IOP was 12.4 +/- 3.4 mmHg and 13.1 +/- 4.5 mmHg respectively in the carbachol group, 19.4 +/- 6.4 mmHg and 17.2 +/- 4.2 mmHg respectively in the control group. The differences were significant (p < 0.04 and p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the values at 7 days post-operatively (p > 0.8). An IOP greater than 25 mmHg was recorded at 8 h and 24 h post-operatively in 8 (33%) and 4 (17%) of the control group and in 1 (4%) and 1 (4%) of the carbachol group. All the IOPs were 20 mmHg or lower in both groups at 7 days post-operatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients treated with intracameral carbachol following uncomplicated clear corneal phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation demonstrate lower early post-operative IOP.
Cekiç
O
O
SSK Ankara Eye Hospital, Turkey.
Batman
C
C
D002217:Carbachol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008916:Miotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies
D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D008916:Miotics; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D002217:Carbachol