Short- and long-term effect of clear corneal incisions on intraocular pressure

PURPOSE: To evaluate short- and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) after cataract surgery using clear corneal incision to assess whether there is a statistically significant postoperative IOP decrease. SETTING: Advanced Vision Care, West Hills, California. METHODS: We retrospectively 135 eyes of 89 randomly selected patients who had scleral tunnel or clear corneal cataract surgery with a follow-up of at least 6 months. Patients with pre-existing glaucoma were excluded. RESULTS: In the clear corneal group (n = 84), mean IOP was statistically significantly lower (P = .019) 12 months after surgery than preoperatively (13.65 versus 15.57 mm Hg). Although there was a trend toward decreased IOP in the scleral tunnel incision group (n = 51), the difference was not statistically significant (P = .178). CONCLUSION: We found a trend toward lower IOP that, if permanent, raises serious implications about the necessity of combined procedures in patients with both glaucoma and cataract.