[Corneoscleral wound healing after self-sealing cataract surgery--3. Effect of postoperative intraocular pressure on wound sealing].

We investigated histologically the effect of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) on wound sealing after self-sealing cataract surgery in rabbits. A scleral pocket and internal corneal flap were made according to Ernest's method, and phacoemulsification was performed. Balanced salt solution was injected to self-seal the wound and to raise the IOP to 30 mmHg (high IOP group), to raise the IOP to 30 mmHg and then lower it to 15 mmHg (high-low IOP group), or to raise the IOP to only 15 mmHg (low IOP group). After various days, the eyes were analyzed by corneal topography and enucleated. The corneoscleral tissues were examined histologically. The wound adaptation was good in the high IOP group and the high-low IOP group on the external and internal sides on the first day after operation, but the wound adhesion was poor in the low IOP group even on the fourth day and became attached on the seventh day. We suggest that the difference of wound sealing caused by different postoperative IOPs might affect early postoperative astigmatism.