Late-onset elevation in intraocular pressure after neodymium-YAG laser posterior capsulotomy
S. Fourman and J. Apisson
Department of Ophthalmology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-8123.
We retrospectively studied the long-term change in intraocular pressure
after neodymium-YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Uncomplicated
extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens
implantation was performed in 446 consecutive normal eyes (401 patients),
237 (53%) of which subsequently underwent uncomplicated neodymium-YAG laser
posterior capsulotomy. Late-onset elevation in intraocular pressure was
seen in three eyes (1.4%) after cataract surgery alone (mean follow-up, 2.7
+/- 1.7 years) and in 14 eyes (5.9%) after cataract and laser surgeries
(mean follow-up, 3.0 +/- 1.1 years). This difference was statistically
significant (P less than .03). These results suggest that, in addition to
immediate changes in intraocular pressure, neodymium-YAG laser posterior
capsulotomy may be associated with an increase in intraocular pressure long
after the laser surgery, even in normal eyes without obvious postoperative
complications.
