Cataract surgery lowered IOP, improved ocular hemodynamics

Patients undergoing small-incision cataract surgery had lower IOP levels and better ocular pulsatility after surgery than before, according to a study. The study authors noted that the cataract patients had elevated levels of IOP and reduced ocular perfusion characteristics before undergoing surgery compared with a group of healthy patients.

E.J.R. Hilton and colleagues at Aston University in England measured systemic and ocular hemodynamics and IOP both preoperatively and at 1 month postoperatively in 25 eyes of 25 patients scheduled to undergo small-incision cataract surgery with IOL implantation. All patient values were compared with those of an untreated age-matched healthy group. The mean age of both patient groups was about 72 years.

For each eye, IOP, pulsatile ocular blood flow, pulse volume, ocular pulse amplitude and pulse rate were measured. At each visit, systemic blood pressure rates were also taken. Preoperative and postoperative values for the cataract group were compared with those of the healthy group.

Preoperatively, the IOP in the group with cataracts was significantly higher than in the healthy group (P < .001). After cataract surgery the IOP was reduced by 16.7% (P = .001), and those in the cataract group had IOPs similar to those in the healthy group.

The preop and postop pulsatile ocular blood flow and pulse volume values were significantly lower in the cataract group than in the normal age-matched group. After surgery, both these values increased significantly, the researchers noted.

The study is published in the June issue of Eye.