Marked intraocular pressure rise following Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy

A Nd:YAG laser was used to perform a posterior capsulotomy on a patient one and a half years after phacoemulsification. Within 24 hours the intraocular pressure had increased to 67 mm Hg despite pre-treatment with timolol and acetazolamide. Intraocular pressure eventually returned to pre-capsulotomy levels after several days. A mechanism is postulated for the particularly high pressures encountered in this case.