Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative topical latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost administration on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation.
Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-masked study included 120 eyes of 120 consecutive, normotensive, uncomplicated cataract patients having phacoemulsification surgery with PC IOL implantation. They were randomized into 1 of 4 treatment groups, each of which had 30 patients. Two (2) h before the surgery, the patients received 0.005% latanoprost (Group 1), 0.004% bimatoprost (Group 2), 0.03% travoprost (Group 3), or placebo (Group 4, artificial tears). IOP was measured at preoperative, 4, 8, and 24 h postoperative with a Goldmann applanation tonometer. The anterior chamber was examined postoperatively 24 h for levels of cell and flare using slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
Results: The preoperative mean IOP was not statistically significant different among the four groups. In Groups 1 and 3, the mean IOP at 4, 8 and 24 h were significantly lower than the control (Group 4; P < 0.05). However, in Group 2, there was no significant difference in IOP during the study period, compared to the control (Group 4; P > 0.05). In addition, the mean postoperative IOP at 24 h in Groups 1 and 3 were significantly lower than the preoperative IOP (P < 0.05). No severe anterior chamber reaction was observed in any group.
Conclusions: Our findings show that a single-dose topical of latanoprost and travoprost can prevent early postoperative IOP elevation after phacoemulsification surgery without any sideeffects.