IOP MONITORING PREOPERATIVELY AND POST OPERATIVELY – OUR OBSERVATIONS AT DR. P.S.R. GOVERNMENT REGIONAL EYE HOSPITAL, KURNOOL MEDICAL COLLEGE, KURNOOL

Abstract

Background: Cataract is major cause of blindness and morbidity worldwide, with treatment of choice being cataract surgery.  Postoperative inflammation is the major problem after cataract surgery, managed by administration of topical corticosteroid drops. Most common side effect of topical corticosteroid is increase in intraocular pressure.

Objective: of our study is to observe the Intraocular pressure changes after cataract surgery and on administration of topical corticosteroid drops.

Methods:200 patients who underwent uneventful small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification were put on fix drug combination of 0.3% Gatifloxacin and 0.1% Dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Intraocular pressure (IOP) monitored using non-contact tonometer at preoperatively and compared with 1^st day, 1^st week, 2^nd week, 4^th week and 6^th week postoperatively.

Results: The final mean IOP was calculated and compared with each other, showed rise in mean IOP postoperatively at 4^th week i.e. 23.5 mm hg, 8.27 mmhg higher than mean IOP preoperatively (15.25 mmhg ) and second highest at first week postoperatively i.e. 21.23mmhg , 5.98 mmhg higher than baseline preoperative IOP

Conclusion: Steroid-induced IOP elevation was observed mostly after 4 weeks of topical steroid therapy. The prevalence of steroid responders is relatively significant in our study sample, being 9%; thus coming to a conclusion that topical steroid should be used judiciously. Topical steroids should be tapered early & can be replaced / supplemented with topical NSAIDS and lubricant eye drops.