Electroconvulsive therapy after eye surgery
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Pascal A Sienaert1, Carolien Vanholst
1Department of Mood Disorders, University Psychiatric Center-Catholic University Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium. pascal.sienaert@uc-kortenberg.be
Background:
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is known to increase intraocular pressure (IOP). Data on the safety of ECT in patients after eye surgery remain scarce, and data on the influence of modern anesthetic drugs on IOP during an ECT procedure are lacking.
Methods:
We describe the case of a 49-year old woman, treated with ECT for depression, 13 days after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.
Results:
Baseline IOP (15 mm Hg OD/14 mm Hg OS) dropped after administration of propofol (8 mm Hg OD/10 mm Hg OS) and then increased after succinylcholine (19 mm Hg OD/OS) to further increase during the seizure (34 mm Hg OD/OS not available). Our patient had 9 treatments, until remission, without any complication.
Conclusions:
Recent cataract surgery should not be seen as a contraindication to ECT. Advances in the technique of cataract surgery have improved wound healing, and the transient IOP increase is, probably, of limited importance. Further study on the influence of contemporary anesthesia regimens on IOP is warranted.
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