Hydrodynamic analysis of intraocular pressure changes during anterior chamber procedures

Abstract

Variations in intraocular pressure (IOP), observed by us and other authors in closed-system anterior chamber procedures, are explained using a simple hydrodynamic analysis bases on the Bernoulli equation. Calculations show that the sudden incerease in IOP (pressure spikes) measured during anterior ssegment primarily to the small size of the infusion cannulas and are exacerbated by high infusion rates. Accurate measurement of these IOP variations requires placement of the pressure sensors in situ and is not possible by remote pressure sensing at the infusion line or console. This work indicates that closed-system procedures could benefit from accurate monitoring of intraoperative IOP and could use these measurements for automatic surgery.