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Continuous intraocular pressure recordings during lamellar microkeratotomy of enucleated human eyes.

Bradley JC, McCartney DL, Craenen GA

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.

PURPOSE: To analyze the course of intraocular pressure (IOP) during lamellar microkeratotomy (LMK) in enucleated human eyes using 3 microkeratome systems. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, U.S.A. METHODS: Sixteen enucleated human globes were cannulated through the optic nerve, and IOP was recorded continuously while the eyes had standard LMK flap creation. Three microkeratomes were used: Carriazo-Barraquer (Moria Inc.), Innovatome (Innovative Optics Inc.), and Hansatome (Bausch & Lomb). RESULTS: During the vacuum affixation phase, the IOP reached a mean plateau of 97.9 mm Hg with the Hansatome, 135.8 mm Hg with the Innovatome, and 150.0 mm Hg with the Carriazo-Barraquer. During applanation and cutting, the IOP rose to mean plateau of 154.7 mm Hg, 151.8 mm Hg, and 175.8 mm Hg, respectively. Statistical analysis using Kruskal-Wallis testing suggested a difference in mean IOP elevation between the 3 microkeratomes during the vacuum affixation phase (P = .0394) but no difference during the applanation and cutting phase (P = .506). CONCLUSION: The IOP during LMK was higher than previously reported, and this may increase the risk for complications in certain patient groups.

Published 30 April 2007 in J Cataract Refract Surg, 33(5): 869-72.
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