Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in extracapsular cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation: intraocular pressure and inflammatory response.

We studied prospectively the effects of 2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), instilled in to the anterior chamber during extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in 122 patients. Significant pressure rise was noted at 12 and 24 hours post-operatively when HPMC was not removed at the end of surgery. This was prevented by washing HPMC from the anterior chamber at the end of surgery, or by using either acetazolamide or a combination of oxyphenbutazone and vitamin C without washing HPMC. There was no difference in intraocular inflammation between controls and the HPMC groups. The group receiving combined oxyphenbutazone and vitamin C had the least, the differences between these two groups being sufficient.