Effects of IAL and Healon on postoperative intraocular pressure after cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation.

A randomized controlled study was done on 60 patients, divided into three groups, who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) of IAL left in situ compared with IAL or Healon removed after surgery. The IOP was monitored three, six, 12, and 24 hours and seven days after surgery. In general, there was a similar trend in IOP in the three groups with increasing values starting three hours after surgery and normal values reached around 24 hours. No significant statistical difference was found when IAL was removed compared with Healon removed or IAL left in situ compared with Healon removed. No differences were found in the presence of an inflammatory reaction or its severity among the three groups 24 hours after surgery. We believe that IAL can be used in cataract surgery without removing it at the end of the operation, thus simplifying surgical maneuvers and reducing surgical risks.