Intraocular pressure after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation in open-angle glaucoma.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after phacoemulsification (Phaco) with posterior chamber lens (PC IOL) implantation in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) at least 2 years after surgery.


METHODS
19 eyes of 13 POAG patients who underwent uneventful clear cornea Phaco with PC IOL implantation and with follow-up of at least 2 years after surgery were included in this retrospective study. None of them had previous intraocular surgery or argon laser trabeculoplasty.


RESULTS
The average preoperative IOP was 16.9 +/- 2.02 mm Hg. The average follow-up of was 36 +/- 11.8 months. 1 week after surgery a significant decrease in average IOP was observed (13.8 +/- 3.0 mm Hg; P = 0.000). 1 and 4 months after surgery IOP was still significantly lower than preoperatively. 8 months after surgery IOP significantly increased to 15.9 mm Hg (+/- 2.9 mm Hg; P = 0.022) with respect to 1 week postoperatively, but then again significantly decreased to 15.5 mm Hg (+/- 2.6 mm Hg; P = 0.020) 1 year after surgery and stayed approximately the same at 2 and 3 years after surgery. After 4 years the average IOP was 15.0 mm Hg (+/- 3.1 mm Hg; P = 0.216), that was statistically insignificant because of the small number of patients. In 79% (15 eyes) of our cases medical antiglaucoma treatment was unchanged, in 21% (4 eyes) the therapy was reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Uneventful Phaco with PC IOL implantation in good medically controlled POAG eyes was associated with a statistically significant long-term decrease in IOP, allowing the reduction of postoperative antiglaucoma medications in more than 20% of the eyes.
Hudovernik
Mojca
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Teaching Hospital Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
Pahor
Dusica
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents