The effect of systemic hypotension during cardiopulmonary bypass on intraocular pressure and visual function in humans.

The effect of controlled systemic hypotension on intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual function was measured in a group of 12 patients undergoing extracorporeal perfusion during cardiovascular surgery. When venous pressure was controlled, intraocular pressure was noted to fall following a fall in the systemic blood pressure. There was a return of IOP toward normal levels with recovery of the systemic blood pressure. Systemic hypotension of 25 to 100 mm Hg for up to 201 minutes in the presence of hemodilution and hypothermia was not associated with any functional or morphologic change in ocular function.