Analysis of the short-term effect of two viscoelastic agents on the intraocular pressure after extracapsular cataract extraction. Sodium hyaluronate 1% vs hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2%.

We conducted a study to evaluate the shortterm effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) following extracapsular cataract extraction using either sodium hyaluronate 1% or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2%. In both groups a non-significant rise in IOP at day 1 was followed by a significant decline in IOP at day 3 to values below the pre-operative level (p < 0.05). At day 7 both groups had returned to pre-operative values. Post-operatively, spikes in intraocular pressure (> 25 mmHg) were seen equally in both groups. Patients with pre-operatively diagnosed open-angle glaucoma, high myopia and diabetic retinopathy are considered to be at high risk concerning post-operatively elevated IOP, but with small variation these patients followed the main trend.