[Lowering intraocular pressure by phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation]

It is suspected that PE+PCL will often lower IOP. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry in 50 consecutive patients (12 males and 38 females) who were unliterally pseudophacic (28 right and 22 left eyes n.s.). They had an intact posterior capsule and were not suffering from glaucoma. Mean age was 76 +/- 10 years. Time intervals since cataract surgery ranged from 2 to 68 months (mean 15 +/- 17 months). Seventy-four percent (99% confidence interval: 61% < P < 87%) of the patients showed lower IOP (less than 90% of reference value) in the pseudophacic eye. Median IOP in pseudophacic eye was 12 mmHg vs 14 mmHg in phacic control eyes (P < 0.01). These results are in accordance with the hypothesis that PE+PCL usually leads to a long-term reduction in IOP.