Initial observation of intraocular pressure change after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

Objective To observe the effect on intraocular pressure(IOP) of small cataract phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Methods Preoperative and postoperative(1 and 3 weeks, 2 and 3 months) IOP measurements of 218 eyes having phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were reviewed respectively. Results Mean preoperative IOP of 218 eyes was 16.0±0.21 mmHg. It dropped postoperatively to 14.7±0.22 mmHg at 1 week( P 0.01). 14.2±0.23 mmHg at 3 weeks ( P 0 01),13.6±0.20 mmHg at 2 months ( P 0.01), 13.8±0.20 mmHg at 3 months ( P 0.01). Patients with the preoperative diagnosis of glaucoma the IOP and significantly higher 1 week postoperative, however, the differences were statistically insignificantly at 3 weeks, 2 months and 3 months. Patient age, sex, the eyes operated on, wound construction, phaco time, IOL and visoclastive type did not significantly influence the postoperative IOP change. Conclusions Small incision sutureless phacoemulsification and IOL implantation is safe in IOP.