Effect of osteotomies during rhinoplasty on intraocular pressure

Objective: To investigate whether rhinoplasty with osteotomies for the treatment of deformed nose induces changes in intraocular pressure (IOP). Design: Prospective, nonrandomized study. Setting: University-affiliated medical center. Patients: Thirty patients who underwent rhinoplasty with osteotomies for the nose were prospectively enrolled in this study. Fifteen patients had lateral osteotomies with the external perforating technique, and fifteen with an internal continuous technique with periosteal elevation. We excluded patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, glaucoma, previous ocular trauma, history of ocular surgery, and previous use of topical corticosteroid eye drops. Main outcome measures: The intraocular pressure (IOP) in each patient was measured by Goldmann tonometry preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 2, and 7. Results: 23 women and 7 men with a mean age of 27 years were enrolled in the study. The mean ± SD IOP of the eye was 15.69 ± 2.37 mmHg preoperatively. Postoperatively, the mean ± SD IOPs were 15.96 ± 1.92 mmHg on day 1, 15.45 ± 2.55 mmHg on day 2, and 15.72 ± 2.86 mmHg on day 7 (P = .863). Conclusions: Although osteotomes during rhinoplasty caused variations in the IOP compartment, the changes in IOP were not statistically significant. Therefore, rhinoplasty should be a safe surgical procedure with respect to ocular physiological function, however monitoring IOP peri-operatively is advised. To our best knowledge, this is the first clinical trial to determine the effect of rhinoplasty with osteotomy on intraocular pressure.