Pressure profile of ophthalmic surgical procedures: an experimental study on the rabbit eye.

A balloon sensor was implanted in the posterior wall of the rabbit eye, and pressure fluctuation during several surgical procedures was monitored. Temporary IOP increase during digital massage sometimes reached near 100 mm Hg. Pressure increase during incision on the cornea was quite high, while corneal suturing, lens extraction, iridectomy, and open-sky vitrectomy induced minor fluctuating pressure on the posterior wall. Diathermy coagulation and scleral incision during simulated retinal detachment surgery increased IOP, exceeding 50 mm Hg and sometimes reaching 100 mm Hg.