Introduction. It has been recognized that cataract surgery leads to a
reduction of intraocular pressure, both in healthy and in glaucoma patients.
This prospective interventional clinical study aimed to investigate the
effects of cataract surgery on intraocular pressure and its short- and
long-term fluctuations in medically controlled primary open-angle glaucoma
patients and non-glaucomatous patients. Material and Methods. Two groups of
31 patients (31 eyes) were studied. The observed group included patients
with glaucoma and cataract, and the control group included patients with
senile cataract only. The intraocular pressure was measured three times
daily pre- and at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results. In both
groups, a significant postoperative reduction in both mean and maximum
intraocular pressure. Six months after surgery, in the observed group the
average and maximum intraocular pressure reduction levels were -2.73 ? 1.91
mmHg and -3.16 ? 2.19 mmHg, and -2.26 ? 1.71 mmHg and -2.53 ? 1.70 mmHg in
the control group. In the observed group, at 3 and 6 months after surgery, a
significant reduction in short-term fluctuations was observed. Six months
after surgery, short-term fluctuations decreased by -1.04 ? 2.20 mmHg
compared to preoperative. Postoperatively, in the observed group, long-term
fluctuations of average and maximum intraocular pressure were 2.69 ? 2.15
mmHg and 2.88 ? 2.22 mmHg, respectively, and in the controls they were 2.02
? 1.28 mmHg and 2.42 ? 1.47 mmHg, showing no significant differences between
groups. Conclusion. In patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, cataract
surgery results in a statistically significant reduction in both average and
maximum intraocular pressure as well as of short-term fluctuations.
Long-term Intraocular Pressure Fluctuations and Risk of Conversion from Ocular Hypertension to Glaucoma
