Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative topical latanoprost,
bimatoprost, and travoprost administration on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after
phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation.
Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-masked study included 120 eyes of 120 consecutive, normotensive, uncomplicated cataract patients having phacoemulsification surgery
with PC IOL implantation. They were randomized into 1 of 4 treatment groups, each of which
had 30 patients. Two (2) h before the surgery, the patients received 0.005% latanoprost (Group
1), 0.004% bimatoprost (Group 2), 0.03% travoprost (Group 3), or placebo (Group 4, artificial
tears). IOP was measured at preoperative, 4, 8, and 24 h postoperative with a Goldmann applanation
tonometer. The anterior chamber was examined postoperatively 24 h for levels of
cell and flare using slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
Results: The preoperative mean IOP was not statistically significant different among the
four groups. In Groups 1 and 3, the mean IOP at 4, 8 and 24 h were significantly lower than
the control (Group 4; P < 0.05). However, in Group 2, there was no significant difference in
IOP during the study period, compared to the control (Group 4; P > 0.05). In addition, the
mean postoperative IOP at 24 h in Groups 1 and 3 were significantly lower than the preoperative
IOP (P < 0.05). No severe anterior chamber reaction was observed in any group.
Conclusions: Our findings show that a single-dose topical of latanoprost and travoprost can
prevent early postoperative IOP elevation after phacoemulsification surgery without any sideeffects.
