Objective: To study the incidence and risk factors of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery.
Methods: Data for 422 patients (446 eyes) who underwent vitreoretinal surgery from June 2005 to June 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. IOP was measured before surgery and on day 1, 2, 3, 7-14 after surgery with Goldmann applanation tonometer. Ocular hypertension was defined as IOP 25 mmHg or more. All factors were analyzed for association with Ocular hypertension.
Results: 232 of the 422 patients were female. 190 were male. The IOP was elevated significantly in 185 eyes (41%) after surgery within 2 weeks. Among them the IOP occurred mostly in day 1 (152 eyes, 82%). The rate of IOP elevation with intraocular tamponade of C3F8 or silicone oil was 53% or 55%, the difference being not statistically significant (P>0.05). The incidence of high IOP in C3F8 injection group and silicone oil injection group were statistically higher than simple pars plana vitrectomy group (P<0.01). The risk factors of ocular hypertension include C3F8 injection (chi2=37.82, P<0.01), silicone oil injection (chi2=27.84, P<0.01), lentectomy (chi2=8.98, P<0.01), scatter endolaser (chi2=7.41, P<0.01), diabetes (chi2=12.12, P<0.01) and increasing patient age (chi2=7.07, P<0.01).
Conclusion: IOP elevation was a common complication of vitreoretinal surgery. The risk factors of ocular hypertension include C3F8 injection, silicone oil injection, lentectomy, scatter endolaser, diabetes and increasing patient age.