Effects of pupil stretch technique during phacoemulsification on postoperative vision, intraocular pressure, and...

To determine whether pupil stretch during phacoemulsification affects postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and inflammation compared with results in patients without pupil stretch.

A retrospective analysis of 115 eyes that had pupil stretch during phacoemulsification (study group) and 125 eyes without pupil stretch (control group) was performed with a minimum of 12 months follow-up. Single-factor analysis of variance and 2-tailed homoscedastic t tests were used for statistical analysis.

The mean preoperative logMAR equivalent BCVA was 0.5 +/- 0.3 (SD) in the study group and 0.6 +/- 0.4 in the control group. The mean preoperative IOP was 16.2 +/- 4.1 mm Hg in the study group and 16.0 +/- 3.5 mm Hg (control group). There was no statistically significant difference at postoperative follow-up of 1 year in BCVA or IOP between the 2 groups (1 year BCVA 0.2 +/- 0.2 [study group], 0.2 +/- 0.2 [control group] [P<.1]; IOP 14.5 +/- 3.5 mm Hg and 14.7 +/- 3.3 mm Hg, respectively [P<.7]). There was no significant difference in the number of glaucoma medications required for glaucoma patients preoperatively and postoperatively between the 2 groups (P<.5). Complications were rare, and there was no significant difference in the complications (ie, iritis, hyphema, cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane formation) between the 2 groups at 1 year.

Pupil stretch during phacoemulsification was not associated with a statistically significant difference in BCVA, IOP, inflammation, or other complications postoperatively compared with results in the control group without pupil stretch.