[Cataract surgery and diurnal fluctuations of IOP in non-glaucoma patients].

Purpose: To study the effect of cataract surgery on diurnal IOP fluctuations.

Methods: Three months clinical, observational, prospective study on one group of 34 patients (34 eyes) with cataract surgery (phacoemulsification technique) performed by the same surgeon. The IOP was measured, every two hours, for each patient (from 8am to 18pm) preoperative and postoperative by Goldman aplanotonometry.

Exclusion Criteria: not normal open angle in gonioscopy examination and ocular or general associated diseases. The group was homogeneous about age and sex distribution. Statistic analyse was realised by t student test.

Results: Cataract surgery reduced IOP at all time points of measurement (p<0.05). The mean IOP was decreased from a preoperative level of 12.3+/-2.5mmHg to 11.2+/-2.2mmHg at follow-up (p<0.05). The maximum and minimum IOP also showed significant difference. There was no difference in the range of IOP before (3.0+/-1.5mmHg) and after surgery (2.75+/-1.5mmHg) (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Cataract surgery significantly decreases IOP and has no effect on diurnal IOP fluctuation.