Effect of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients

Abstract

Introduction: Cataracts and Glaucoma are the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. Lens extraction using the Phacoemulsification technique can be an effective IOP-lowering treatment for all types of glaucoma.
 Objective: To study was to measure the Intra-Ocular Pressure before and after phacoemulsification and to determine the mean change in Intra-Ocular Pressure.
 Methodology: This study included 53 glaucoma patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), Angle Closure Glaucoma (ACG), and Pseudoexfoliation (PXF) % (n=4) Glaucoma who visited the Glaucoma Department of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi. Pre and post-interventional study designs were used. Based on a slit lamp examination, patients were labeled as having cataracts in glaucomatous eyes. Pre-operative Intraocular pressure (IOP) was noted using Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT). Patients were referred for Phacoemulsification and their IOP was noted after 2 weeks of surgery. The non-Probability convenient sampling Technique was used. Paired t-test was used to find the mean change in IOP. 
 Results: The mean age of respondents was (62.5±10.25) and had a maximum value of 81 years and a minimum value of 40 years among a sample of 53 respondents. The mean IOP before phacoemulsification was (16.25±7.251) the mean IOP after phacoemulsification was (13.28±5.940) and the mean difference was (2.962 ±8.364) in glaucomatous patients having cataracts. This difference was found to be statistically significant (p-value<0.05).
 Conclusion: In Glaucomatous patients having cataracts after phacoemulsification there is a significant reduction in IOP and medications after surgery. This IOP reduction was more marked in POAG patients as compared to other types of Glaucoma.