Intraocular pressure after transurethral prostatic surgery

Two patients recently complained of transient blindness following TUR P at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. This blindness resolved with correction of the hyponatremia. The authors questioned whether transient blindness might be due to an increase in IOP from water absorption rather than cerebral edema. The purpose of this investigation was to study changes in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) that may be related to the absorption of the non-electrolyte irrigating fluid employed in patients undergoing TUR P. None of the 22 patients studied had increases in IOP large enough to be considered pathological. Thus, the authors agree with other authors that cerebral edema was the cause of visual disturbances.