Intraocular pressure profiles during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To document the intraocular pressure (IOP) profiles during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. SETTING: Refractive cataract surgery center. DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: Intraocular pressure was measured using a handheld portable applanation tonometer (Tono-Pen Avia) during femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery using the Victus platform. RESULTS: Forty-one eyes of 35 patients were recruited. The mean age of the patients was 70.5 years +/- 8.2 (SD) (range 51 to 85 years). The mean IOP before, during, and after suction was 17.2 +/- 3.2 mm Hg (range 10 to 23 mm Hg), 42.1 +/- 10.8 mm Hg (range 20 to 55 mm Hg), and 13.8 +/- 3.4 mm Hg (range 9 to 25 mm Hg), respectively. The mean difference between IOP before and during suction was 25.0 +/- 11.3 mm Hg (range 5 to 43 mm Hg) (P<.01, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The mean difference between IOP during and after suction was -28.7 +/- 10.8 mm Hg (range -45 to -10 mm Hg) (P<.01, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The mean suction duration was 216 +/- 15 seconds (range 180 to 245 seconds). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in IOP during the suction phase of femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery was statistically significant compared with the baseline IOP. Caution should be taken in patients with ocular conditions that are vulnerable to IOP fluctuation.