Effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure in normal eyes and glaucomatous eyes.

Study design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and duration of study: Layton Rehmatulla Benevolent Trust, Eye and Cancer Hospital, Lahore, from September 2009 to August 2010.

Methodology: The study subjects were adult patients with cataract and open or occludable angle, with or without raised intraocular pressure, who underwent phacoemulsification. Patients having any corneal pathology, synecheal angle closure more than 180 degrees, inflammatory eye disease, previous ocular surgery including YAG iridotomy and endothelial cell density less than 1500/mm2 were excluded from the study. They were followed-up for one year. Outcome measures included intraocular pressure, angle width, visual acuity and number of antiglaucoma medicines. Results were compared using chi-square test for proportions and t-test for mean values.

Results: There were 50 (41%) males and 72 (59%) females with 80 (65.6%) right and 42 (34.4%) left eyes. Mean age was 56.4±8.57 years. Pre-operatively 52 patients had open angles while 70 patients had occludable angles. Postoperatively 96 patients had open angles and 26 patients had occludable angles. Mean pre-operative IOP was 25.70±7.79 mmHg, which was decreased to 17.44±2.8 mmHg (p < 0.001) at final follow-up visit. Number of mean antiglaucoma agents decreased from 1.12±1.30 pre-operatively to 0.62±0.92 at final follow-up visit. Mean pre-operative visual acuity was 0.4±0.19 that increased to 0.86±0.15.

Conclusion: Phacoemulsification resulted in reduction in intraocular pressure in normal as well as glaucomatous eyes and it significantly reduced the need for anti-glaucoma medicines.