[Enzymatic ocular hypertension: a statistical study (author's transl)].

The authors have carried out a statistical study on two large groups of patients operated on for cataract and in whom the enzyme alph-chymotrypsin has been used, and the occurrence of ocular hypertension has been examined. One group, which contained 1,003 operations most of which were under the microscope using a firm closure technique, was compared with another group of 324 cases operated under the same conditions but without using the enzyme. In all cases the intraocular pressure was measured 24-48 hours after the operation. The rise in pressure, the rapidity of its development were studied together with its duration and the concentration of the enzyme. In addition these findings were compared with another group of 2,334 eyes operated on several years previously with standard techniques using a less hermetic wound suture, without a microscope, with alpha-chymotrypsin, but whose tensions were controlled from the third week. The results show conclusively that there is a greater frequency of the occurrence of raised intra-ocular pressure when the enzyme is used (40,3%) than when it is not used (25,3%). This ocular hypertension persists in all cases to the end of three weeks. The time of the appearance of the hypertension, the numbers affected and the duration of the intraocular pressure were not significantly meaningful in the statistical analysis.