Prevention of Intraocular Pressure Elevations in the Early Period after Extracapsular Cataract Extraction

Abstract

Objective: An investigation of the effect of prophylactic ocular hypotensive therapy in the early postoperative period after extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) using 2 different viscoelastic materials. Study Design: A prospective, randomized, single masked study measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) before surgery and at day 1 and 7 after surgery. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Holbaek Hospital, Denmark. Patients: Ninety-eight consecutive patients (eyes) were operated on using either Healon® 1% or Methylcellulose 2% as viscoelastic agent. Main Outcome Measures: Early postoperative IOP and complications. Results: IOP was significantly decreased at day 1 and 7 postoperatively (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in IOP between the 2 groups pre- or postoperatively, P>0.05. At day 1 IOP elevations to>21 mmHg were seen in 1 eye in the Healon group (22 mmHg) and in 4 eyes in the methylcellulose group (22, 23, 24 and 25 mmHg). Elevations were not seen at day 7. Operative and early postoperative complications were low and comparable. Conclusion: A prophylactic hypotensive treatment at the end of surgery and during the 1st hours after surgery seems to eliminate the adverse IOP elevations in the early postoperative period, irrespective of which 2 viscoelastic agents were used.