Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the effect of pulse energy and total energy on intraocular pressure (IOP) after Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) posterior capsulotomy.
Methods: :
Medical records patients who underwent cataract extraction and required a Nd:YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsular opacification between 2006 and 2009 were reviewed. Subjects under the age of 18 as well as those lost to follow-up were excluded from the study. Data collected included age, gender, axial eye length, pre and post Nd:YAG visual acuity, history of glaucoma or retinal detachment, pre and post Nd:YAG IOP, energy (MJ) of each Nd:YAG pulse, and total energy (MJ).
Results: :
While the average pre Nd:YAG IOP (15.48) was similar to 30 minute post Nd:YAG IOP (15.49), regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between pulse energy (P=0.0003), total energy (P<0.0001) on the 30 minute post Nd:YAG IOP. However, regression analysis failed to demonstrate significant association between pulse energy and total energy on IOP 3, 6, or 12 months after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. Similarly, axial length was found to be significantly (P=0.0035) associated with the 30 minute post Nd:YAG IOP but not 3, 6, or 12 month post Nd:YAG capsulotomy.
Conclusions: :
This study demonstrates that there may be a significant association between both pulse and total energy on immediate post Nd:YAG IOP. However, this affect on the IOP may not be as evident 3,6, or 12 months after the Nd:YAG capsulotomy. This may have implications on decision making of health care providers by helping them risk-stratify patients receiving Nd:YAG capsulotomy.
Keywords: posterior capsular opacification (PCO) • laser • intraocular pressure