Intraocular Pressure Changes after Uneventful Phacoemulsification in Early Postoperative Period in Healthy Eyes

The aim was to determine early changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) following uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in healthy eyes. This prospective interventional case series study was conducted at Ophthalmology Department, Kragujevac Clinical Centre, Kragujevac, Serbia. The study included 123 eyes of 123 cataract patients, 66 women and 57 men, age range 50-88 (mean 70.73±7.94) years having undergone phacoemulsification and in-the-bag implantation of a foldable IOL. The patients were treated at Kragujevac Clinical Centre between June 2015 and May 2016. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry preoperatively, then 4-6 hours, 18-24 hours and 7 days postoperatively by the same examiner. The mean IOP preoperatively was 15.10±2.68 mm Hg. In three patients, maximum measured IOP was 22 mm Hg. At 4-6 hours postoperatively, the mean IOP was 24.29±7.56 mm Hg (p<0.001), at 18-24 hours it was 18.37±4.80 mm Hg (p<0.001), and 7 days after the surgery the mean IOP was 16.24±2.90 mm Hg (p<0.05). The measured IOP values were statistically significant in all measured times. However, at 4-6 hours and 18-24 hours, the mean IOP value was highly statistically significant (p<0.001). Although 7 days after the surgery IOP normalized, the mean IOP value was statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, our research showed that even eyes with normal preoperative values and uncomplicated phacoemulsification course can show very high IOP values postoperatively, which can cause pain, blurred vision and, rarely, compromise visual function.