REDUCTION OF INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE AFTER PHACOEMULSIFICATION AND ASPIRATION WITH INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANTATION

We prospectively evaluated the pre- and postoperative intraocular pres sures (IOP) of 1,118 cataract patients. All surgical procedures were p erformed by the same skilled surgeon using the same method of phacoemu lsification and aspiration with intraocular lens implantation. The mea n+/-SE preoperative IOP was 13.29+/-0.12 mm Hg, while the mean IOP val ues were 10.87+/-0.12, 9.94+/-0.09, and 10.43+/-0.14 mm Hg 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively, after surgery. When the preoperative IOP was in the low 20s, a decrease of approximately 40% was achieved. The presen t study shows that the IOP decreased postoperatively to a greater exte nt than previously considered, and the rate of decrease was dependent on the initial measurement.