Intraocular Pressure After Phacoemulsification in Psuedoexfoliation Patients Mai Pham MD, Sarosh Janjua MD, Jannet Ung MD, Sandra Cremers MD FACS Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Harvard Medical School

Purpose To determine whether phacoemulsification leads to a greater drop in intraocular pressure (IOP) in psuedoexfoliation (PXF) patients as compared to non-pseudoexfoliation patients.

The data was then analyzed using STATA version 9. Methods In a retrospective cohort study, a large database of phacoemulsifications performed by residents was used to recruit patients in two groups: those with PXF (86 patients) and those without (113 patients). Exclusion criteria included history of glaucoma, diabetes, intraocular hypertension, and previous ocular surgery. Intraocular pressures were noted at baseline, then at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6-9 months, 12 months and 24 months following phacoemulsification. The data was then analyzed using STATA version 9.

Results Intraocular pressures in both groups were significantly lower than the pre-operative baseline throughout the follow-up period of 24 months. There was no significant difference in the drop in intraocular pressures between the two groups. Compared to their pre-operative baselines, PXF patients had significantly lower IOP at 3 months (p=0.03), 6-9 months (p <0.01), 12 months (p <0.01) and 24 months (p <0.01). Non-PXF patients also had significantly lower IOPs compared to their pre-operative baseline at 1 month (p = 0.028) and each time point thereafter (all p <0.01).

Conclusion Phacoemulsification does not lead to a significantly greater drop in intraocular pressure in pseudoexfoliation patients as compared to non-pseudoexfoliation patients. There is a significant drop in intraocular pressures in both groups compared to their baseline pre-operative pressures.

Financial Disclosures None