Heavier molecular weight ocular viscoelastic devices and timing of post-operative review following cataract surgery.

Background: To assess the safety of abandoning the next day post-operative review in preference for assessment only 2 hours post-surgery for both phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery with heavier molecular weight ocular viscoelastic devices (OVD).

Methods: 475 patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery using heavier molecular weight ocular viscoelastic device (Healon GV) were studied. Of these 415 were phacoemulsification and 60 extracapsular and none received Intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering prophylaxis at the end of surgery.

Intraocular pressure changes and the implications on patient review after phacoemulsification.

Purpose: To determine the pattern of intraocular pressure (IOP) change postoperatively and its bearing on the timing of postoperative review.

Setting: Ophthalmology department of a district general hospital, Northamptonshire, England.

Methods: One hundred eyes of 100 consecutive patients having uneventful phacoemulsification were included in this study.