A Study of Visual Outcome After Immediate Paracentesis in Case of Phacolytic Glaucoma

Abstract

AIM:To evaluate the role of anterior chamber paracentesis in control of Intraocular pressure and visual outcome in patients with phacolytic glaucoma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective analysis was done over a period of 6 months from August 2014 to January 2015. Informed and written consent was taken from all patients. After necessary ocular and systemic examination and investigations, paracentesis was done in patients with phacolytic glaucoma prior to cataract surgery. On admission day, Presenting IOP and visual acuity was recorded. Intraocular pressure was recorded 3 hrs later following paracentesis by Applanation tonometry. Post-operative improvement in best corrected visual acuity was recorded on Day 2, Day 7 and Day 30 following cataract surgery. RESULTS: In our study we see that intraocular pressure recorded after 3 hrs in paracentesis patients should drastically reduce, in which 18 patients (60%) the IOP were in the range of 11-15 mm Hg. About 19(63.3%) showed 1 month postoperative Snellen's chart visual acuity in the range of 6/60-6/18. CONCLUSION: Immediate paracentesis in phacolytic glaucoma patients is an effective procedure which causes significant reduction in intraocular pressure and improvement in postoperative visual acuity which obliterated the requirement for IV Mannitol in most of the patients prior to cataract surgery.