Using tropicamide and phenylephrine without cyclopentolate for pupil dilation in cataract surgery reduces postoperative intraocular pressure rise

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate whether intraocular (IOP) elevation post-cataract surgery can be reduced by using tropicamide and phenylephrine only, without cyclopentolate. Medical records across two surgical facilities were analyzed. One surgical facility (Cohort A) used a combination of tropicamide, cyclopentolate, and phenylephrine preoperatively, while the other (Cohort B) used tropicamide and phenylephrine only. Of patients in Cohort A, 63.6% (n = 7) had a higher IOP in the operated eye, while it was only 27.3% (n = 3) in Cohort B. Therefore, it is preferable to exclude the use of cyclopentolate in the preoperative dilation regimen of patients undergoing cataract surgery. However, a study with a larger sample population is required to further evaluate the significance of these results.