Risk Factors for Early Intraocular Pressure Elevation After Cataract Surgery in a Cohort of United States Veterans
Kaushik Annam1,2, Allison J Chen1,2, Irene M Lee3
1Section of Ophthalmology, VA Medical Center, 830 Chalkstone Ave, Providence, RI.
Introduction:
Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). A well-known complication is a transient but potentially harmful elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP) within the 24-h postoperative period. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors for IOP elevation 1 d after cataract surgery in a cohort of United States (US) veterans.
Materials And Methods:
The study included 784 patients who underwent cataract surgery between April 2013 and April 2016 at a single Veterans Affairs medical center in Providence, RI. One thousand one hundred thirty-seven cataract surgeries were considered in total. Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained through the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC). Logistic regression, adjusted for patients with bilateral surgeries, was used to evaluate risk factors for first postoperative day IOP elevation (≥28 mmHg). The main outcome measure was elevated IOP on postoperative day 1 (POD1) after cataract surgery.
Results:
The average patient age was 74 yr. Ninety-eight percent (1,110/1,137) of cases involved male patients; 75.3% (856/1,137) of the cataract surgeries were performed by resident surgeons. Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 41% (461/1,137), alpha-1 blocker use in 31% (358/1,137), ocular hypertension (ocular HTN) in 4% (44/1,137), and glaucoma in 11% (126/1,137) of cases. Twenty-two percent (232/1,137) of eyes had elevated IOP. Independent risk factors were a history of ocular HTN (OR: 8.74 [4.03-18.9]), glaucoma (OR: 3.54 [2.17-5.75]), a preoperative IOP ≥22 mmHg (OR: 2.51 [1.12-5.62]), and complicated cataract surgery (OR: 2.45 [1.18-5.08]), defined as vitreous loss, anterior capsular tear (ACT), posterior capsular tear (PCT), or presence of zonular lysis.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that cataract surgery patients with ocular HTN, glaucoma, a preoperative IOP ≥22 mmHg, or significant intraocular complications may benefit from prophylactic ocular anti-hypertensive medication.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors
Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure is equal to ambient atmospheric pressure. Since the vapor pressure of a solution is lowered due to the presence of nonvolatile solutes, it stands to reason that the solution’s boiling point will subsequently be increased. Vapor pressure increases with temperature, and so a solution will require a higher temperature than will pure solvent to achieve any given vapor pressure, including one...
Factors affecting Blood pressure
Physiological Factors:
Measurement: Standard Units
Measurement: Derived Units


