Effects of corneal thickness and axial length on intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude before and after cataract surgery

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the biophysical properties of the cornea and eye on the intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) before and after cataract surgery.

Design: Intervention study.

Participants: The left eyes of 311 patients.

Methods: The left eyes of 338 patients undergoing cataract surgery without other eye pathology were studied. IOP and OPA were recorded by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) 1 week before and 14 weeks after cataract surgery. The axial length, corneal curvature, central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and anterior chamber angle were measured 1 week before cataract surgery. Multiple regression analyses of these factors to the preoperative OPA were performed. The difference between the pre- and postoperative IOP and OPA were investigated by paired t tests.

Results: Three hundred and eleven of 338 eyes were analyzed. The preoperative OPA was negatively correlated with axial length (β = -0.24, p < 0.0001) and positively correlated with the preoperative IOP (β = 0.13, p < 0.0001). The average OPA was significantly decreased after cataract surgery (p < 0.0001). The mean change in postoperative OPA was -0.45 ± 0.63 mm Hg (95% CI -0.52 to -0.38 mm Hg).

Conclusions: The preoperative OPA was negatively correlated with axial length as reported. A significant decrease in OPA was observed after the cataract surgery.