EFFECTS OF TIMOLOL ON CATARACT-EXTRACTION AND INTRA-OCULAR PRESSURE

The effect of timolol on postoperative intraocular pressures (IOPs) in a control and experimental group of 30 eyes, each in patients who had uncomplicated intracapsular cataract extractions, most with iris clip lenses, was studied. Closure of the eye in each case was with 3, 6-0 silk sutures preplaced in a morticed incision. Six control eyes had IOP increases of .gtoreq. 6 mm Hg within 24 h of surgery. A patient treated with timolol had an IOP increase of .gtoreq. 6 mm Hg. Differences in IOP between the control and experimental groups were statistically significant at the .01 level. Pressure lowering ability of timolol may be prophylactic and therapeutic. It is well suited for pseudophakic eyes as pressure reduction is not associated with pupillary changes.