Natural course of intraocular pressure after cataract surgery with sodium chondroitin sulfate 4%-sodium hyaluronate 3% (Viscoat).
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the natural course of intraocular pressure (IOP) and its peak after small-incision cataract surgery with chondroitin sulfate 4%-sodium hyaluronate 3% (Viscoat, Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX).


METHODS
Observational case series.


METHODS
This prospective study comprised 40 eyes of 40 consecutive cataract patients scheduled for small-incision cataract surgery.


METHODS
Cataract surgery was performed with sodium chondroitin sulfate 4%-sodium hyaluronate 3% as the ophthalmic viscosurgical device, which was removed as completely as possible from the eye at the end of surgery. The IOP was measured preoperatively and 30 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 20 to 24 hours; and 1 week postoperatively.


METHODS
Postoperative IOP increase.


RESULTS
The mean IOP increased significantly at all observation times during the first 20 to 24 hours, with a peak increase of 13.4+/-9.4 mmHg after 1 hour (P<0.05). In all, 28 eyes (70%) had an IOP spike to 30 mmHg or higher. Sixty-eight percent of these spikes occurred at 30 minutes as well as at 1 hour and 2 hours postoperatively. At 20 to 24 hours, no eye had an IOP spike to 30 mmHg or higher.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant IOP increases were found during the first 24 hours, peaking at 1 hour after surgery. With a single postoperative IOP measurement, between 30 minutes and 2 hours after surgery, two thirds of these IOP spikes could be detected. To detect all IOP spikes, a second measurement between 4 and 6 hours after surgery would be necessary.
Rainer
Georg
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. georg.rainer@meduniwien.ac.at
Menapace
Rupert
R
Schmid
Katharina Emanuela
KE
Sacu
Stefan
S
Kiss
Barbara
B
Heinze
Georg
G
Findl
Oliver
O
D000368:Aged; D002807:Chondroitin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
D004338:Drug Combinations; C501944:chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate drug combination; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002807:Chondroitin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates