[Early postoperative intraocular pressure after phacoemulsification: Normal patients versus glaucoma patients]

To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) during the first month following cataract surgery among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and non-glaucomatous patients.

This longitudinal observational study included 19 glaucoma patients and 18 healthy patients scheduled for phacoemulsification with IOL implantation between December 2013 and April 2014. IOP was measured preoperatively, on the day of surgery (j0), the next day (j1), one week (j7) and one month after (M1). The usual antiglaucoma medications were continued without any modification compared to the preoperative medications. Oral treatment with a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor was initiated in the case of ocular hypertension above 30mmHg.

IOP in glaucoma patients was 18.42 and 21.16mmHg respectively at j0 and j1 versus 12.94 and 13.78mmHg in non-glaucomatous patients. The difference was significant with P=0.05. There was also more ocular hypertension over 30mmHg in the POAG group (31.5% vs. none in the non-glaucomatous group, P<0.05).

Glaucoma patients, even stabilized on topical medications, are more likely to experience IOP spikes immediately after uncomplicated cataract surgery. High risk patients should have closer monitoring with IOP measurement the day of or the day after surgery. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic anti-hypertensive treatment.