INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE IN NONGLAUCOMATOUS EYES WITH PSEUDOEXFOLIATION SYNDROME AFTER CATARACT-SURGERY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the course of the intraocular pressure (IOP) in nonglaucomatous patients with pseudoexfoliation (PS X) syndrome after cataract surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospec tive age-matched controlled clinical study, 23 consecutive patients wi th PSX were studied and compared with a control group of 23 patients. The IOP was measured by applanation tonometry preoperatively, and post operatively on day 1, after 4 weeks, and after G months. All patients were operated on with a self-sealing 7-mm scleral tunnel incision, pha coemulsification, and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implant ation. RESULTS: Preoperatively the IOP was similar between both groups (P = .962). At the first postoperative day the IOP was below 22 mm Hg in all cases. After 4 weeks and G months a mean decrease of 3.88 mm H g (P = .001) in the control group and of 3.15 mm Hg (P = .002) in the PSX group was observed; this difference was not statistically signific ant (P = .543). CONCLUSIONS: At 1 day postoperatively no pressure incr ease was observed in the eyes with PSX after scleral tunnel incision a nd phacoemulsification. Six months after cataract extraction with IOL implantation, the tension level decreased in the presence of PSX simil arly as in normal eyes.