Long-term intraocular pressure changes after femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery in healthy eyes and glaucomatous eyes

Purpose To examine the long-term effect of femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy (control) and glaucomatous eyes. Setting University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Design Retrospective case series. Methods The study comprised patients aged 18 to 89 years meeting the inclusion criteria. Combination procedures were excluded. The main outcome measure was the change in the mean IOP from baseline to postoperatively. Results Of the 504 eyes meeting the criteria, 278 were in the glaucoma/glaucoma suspect group and 226 in the control group. Both groups had an initial mean increase in IOP 1 day postoperatively (control: +2.0 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-2.6; glaucoma/glaucoma suspect: +3.4 mm Hg; 95% CI, 2.5-4.2) (both P Conclusions Control eyes and eyes with glaucoma had an initial mean IOP rise 1 day after femtosecond laser–assisted cataract surgery. This was followed by a significant decrease starting at 1 month. The reduction was sustained through 3 years in the glaucoma group.