Influence of Phacoemulsification on Intraocular Pressure in Patients with Glaucoma

Abstract

Phacoemulsification (PE) is a current ‘gold standard’ of the surgical treatment of the cataract. Apart from lens extraction and intraocular lens implantation, PE is accompanied by IOP changes in most cases. In cases of ophthalmic hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma, IOP is most often decreased; however, the mechanism of this phenomenon is currently completely unknown. In closed-angle glaucoma, PE provides opening of the anterior chamber angle, which restores physiological outflow of intraocular fluid and leads to IOP stabilization. In some cases, however, PE may be accompanied by a short-term increase in IOP. The exact mechanism of this reaction is unknown, however, in most cases it is associated with the inflammatory response of the eye to surgical trauma.