Short-and long-term effect of clear corneal incisions on intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE: To evaluate short- and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract surgery using clear corneal incision to assess whether there is a statistically significant postoperative IOP decrease.

SETTING

Advanced Vision Care, West Hills, California.

METHODS

We retrospectively 135 eyes of 89 randomly selected patients who had scleral tunnel or clear corneal cataract surgery with a follow-up of at least 6 months. Patients with pre-existing glaucoma were excluded.

RESULTS

In the clear corneal group (n = 84), mean IOP was statistically significantly lower (P = .019) 12 months after surgery than preoperatively (13.65 versus 15.57 mm Hg). Although there was a trend toward decreased IOP in the scleral tunnel incision group (n = 51), the difference was not statistically significant (P = .178).

CONCLUSION

We found a trend toward lower IOP that, if permanent, raises serious implications about the necessity of combined procedures in patients with both glaucoma and cataract.