Intraocular pressure variation after conventional extracapsular cataract extraction, manual small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification in an indigenous black population

Abstract

Introduction: intraocular pressure changes have been reported following the various cataract surgical technique. This study aims to compare the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) variation following conventional extra-capsular cataract extraction (ECCE), manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) and phacoemulsification in an indigenous black population. Methods: a comparative cross-sectional study of adult patients aged 40 years and above who had pressure was measured with Goldman’s applanation tonometer pre-operatively and 1st day, 1st week, 1st month as well as 3rd month postoperative periods and recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Mean IOP changes between study groups were compared using ANOVA. P-value of < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: total of 82 patients consisting of 20(24.4%) ECCE, 32(39%) MSICS and 30(36.6%) phacoemulsification with mean preoperative 13.4mmHg, 13.5mmHg and 14.1 mmHg (p = 0.657) respectively was studied. Mean IOP increased from baseline at 1st day post-operative period in the ECCE and MSICS groups (13.4 ± 3.0mmHg to 13.7 ± 4.5mmHg (p = 0.84) and 13.5 ± 3.1mmHg to 15.3 ± 5.1mmHg (P = 0.48) respectively), and decrease in the phacoemulsification group (14.1 ± 2.6mmHg to 13.9 ± 3.5mmHg (p = 0.378). There was a decline in IOP in all the 3 study groups by one week post-operative period; the difference was significant only in the ECCE group (p = 0.032). By 3rd month postoperatively, there was a reduction in mean IOP when compared with pre-operative IOP the difference being greatest in the ECCE group. Conclusion: ECCE, MSICS, and Phacoemulsification cause a decline in IOP below preoperative levels at 3rd month postoperatively in the MSICS group.