[Behavior of the intraocular pressure after blunt eye injuries]

Elevation of intraocular pressure is often seen immediately after blunt trauma of the eye, but it can occur even years after the primary impact. A retrospective study was performed in 144 patients with contusion to the eye. After a mean observation period of 6.1 years, a significant rise in intraocular pressure was found in the engaged eye (P < 0.05). In more than 8% of the patients the level of intraocular pressure exceeded 22 mmHg, but only 3 cases developed a glaucomatous visual field and optic nerve head changes. Thus, the risk of secondary glaucoma after contusion of the eye is low.