Purpose: To determine whether pupil stretch during phacoemulsification affects postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and inflammation compared with results in patients without pupil stretch.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of 115 eyes that had pupil stretch during phacoemulsification (study group) and 125 eyes without pupil stretch (control group) was performed with a minimum of 12 months follow-up. Single-factor analysis of variance and 2-tailed homoscedastic t tests were used for statistical analysis.
Results: The mean preoperative logMAR equivalent BCVA was 0.5 +/- 0.3 (SD) in the study group and 0.6 +/- 0.4 in the control group. The mean preoperative IOP was 16.2 +/- 4.1 mm Hg in the study group and 16.0 +/- 3.5 mm Hg (control group). There was no statistically significant difference at postoperative follow-up of 1 year in BCVA or IOP between the 2 groups (1 year BCVA 0.2 +/- 0.2 [study group], 0.2 +/- 0.2 [control group] [P<.1]; IOP 14.5 +/- 3.5 mm Hg and 14.7 +/- 3.3 mm Hg, respectively [P<.7]). There was no significant difference in the number of glaucoma medications required for glaucoma patients preoperatively and postoperatively between the 2 groups (P<.5). Complications were rare, and there was no significant difference in the complications (ie, iritis, hyphema, cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane formation) between the 2 groups at 1 year.
Conclusion: Pupil stretch during phacoemulsification was not associated with a statistically significant difference in BCVA, IOP, inflammation, or other complications postoperatively compared with results in the control group without pupil stretch.