Abstract
Purpose :
Prior to glaucoma and cataract surgeries, we aimed to measure the intraocular pressure (IOP) and the viscosity of extracted aqueous humor(AH) during surgery in order to investigate the correlation between IOP and viscosity.
Methods :
Preoperative IOP was measured using a Goldmann applanation tonometer in 3 cataract patients, 3 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, 3 pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) patients, 3 neovascular glaucoma (NVG) patients, 3 patients with uveitic glaucoma, 1 patient with glaucoma due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and 5 patients with secondary glaucoma due to inflammation. AH was extracted intraoperatively, and individual samples were repeatedly measured 15 times using an automated viscometer at the average human body temperature of 36.5°C. Correlation analysis was conducted using the Spearman correlation analysis method.
Results :
Preoperative IOP and AH viscosity showed no significant correlation (r = -0.160, p = 0.499). At 36.5°C, the viscosity of Distilled Water (DW) measured 0.694 mPa-s, with the maximum value among 20 measurements of AH observed in NVG patients at 0.759 mPa-s and the minimum value observed in PEG patients at 0.714 mPa-s. Preoperative IOP and AH viscosity showed no significant correlation (r = -0.160, p = 0.499).
Conclusions :
The viscosity of AH in patients with glaucoma and cataracts was higher than that of DW, exhibiting variations among individual patients. Given the potential impact of changes in AH viscosity on its flow and drainage, further investigation into the composition and viscosity of AH is warranted.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.