Ophthalmology Research: An International Journal

Aims: To determine the effect of cataract surgery on the intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF).

Study Design:  prospective, non-randomized, age-matched controlled, clinical study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut; Egypt, between January 2015 to December 2016.

Methodology: This study included two groups of non-glaucomatous eyes with visually significant senile cataract:  32 eyes with PXF (PXF group), 32 eyes without PXF (control group).  In each group, planned extracapsular cataract extraction (PECCE) was done in 22 eyes and phacoemulsification was done in 10 eyes. IOP was measured at one week, one month and three months postoperatively and compared to the preoperative values.

Results: The difference in mean preoperative IOP between PXF group (14.53±3.253 mmHg) and the control group (13.97±2.335 mmHg) was insignificant (P=0.69). A significantly lower postoperative IOP (P<0.001) than the preoperative level was detected at all follow-up visits in both groups. Mean IOP reduction was significantly greater in PXF group than in the control group at one month (P=0.014) and three months (P=0.012) postoperatively.

Conclusion: IOP significantly decreased after cataract surgery in eyes with and without PXF for up to three months postoperatively. This decrease was significantly greater in PXF group than in the control group at one month and three months postoperatively.