Daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery

Aim-To evaluate daily tonometric curves after cataract surgery in patients with cataract only and in patients with cataract and glaucoma. Methods-108 patients scheduled for cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 57 patients with cataract only (normal) and 51 with catarac t and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). All patients underwent extracapsu lar cataract extraction (ECCE) (manual technique with long wound), phacoemu lsification (automated technique with short wound), or nucleus capture (man ual technique with short wound). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by Goldmann tonometry in all patients every 2 hours for 12 hours before the o peration and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Results-79 patients completed the 6 month examination. ECCE resulted in gre ater reductions in IOP than the other procedures (ECCE: 27% and 36% in norm al patients and those with POAG, respectively; nucleus capture: 20% and 31% , respectively; phacoemulsification: 19% and 22%, respectively). The fluctu ations in IOP before and after surgery were not statistically significant. Conclusion-Cataract surgery in normal patients reduces IOP but does not eli minate fluctuations which are directly proportional to the IOP value and re sult partly from circadian rhythms. This important finding might influence our approach to treatment of patients with glaucoma.