IOP Change after Cataract Surgery in Patients with Controlled Chronic Glaucoma

Jin, Yong Hun; Oh, Young Ki; Kim, Jae Woo

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect on intraocular pressure(IOP) of cataract surgery in chronic glaucoma patients.
METHODS
We reviewed the change of IOP retrospectively in patients with controlled chronic primary glaucoma who did not show change in the number of glaucoma medications pre- and postoperatively after sutureless phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation up to 5 years of follow-up periods. This study included 15 patients with chronic open angle glaucoma and 13 patients with chronic angle closure glaucoma. Mean duration of follow-up period was 39.6 months.
RESULTS
The mean preoperative IOP was 15.32 mmHg and mean postoperative IOP was 14.82 mmHg at last follow-up. There was statistically significant difference between pre- and postoperative mean IOP until 1 year postoperatively(p<0.05) but not significant thereafter(p>0.05). There was no significant difference in mean IOP during the follow-up period between chronic open angle and chronic angle closure glaucoma. The degree of IOP reduction was statistically significant until 1 year postoperatively but did not thereafter. There was no statistically significant difference in mean IOP reduction between chronic open angle and angle closure glaucoma during the follow-up periods.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that intraocular pressure(IOP) after cataract surgery in controlled primary glaucoma patients might be slight reduced up to 1 year postoperatively, but the removal of cataract does not seem to significantly affect IOP level in the long run.