Objective: To compare the rate of intraocular pressure reduction using two methods of external compression digital massage and fixed weight after a peribulbar anaesthetic injection prior to cataract surgery.

Methods: 70 eyes of 70 patients for elective cataract surgery were studied. There were two groups of equal numbers. All received an equal volume of 2% xylocaine injection mixed with 1: 1000 Adrenaline (at a dilution of 1: 100,000) by the peribulbar method. Both groups received post injection external ocular compression for ten minutes. Pressure reduction was achieved in group A through external digital massage, and group B by application of the McIntyre bag of mercury pressure reducer.

Results: Pressure reduction was faster in group A than in group B. The mean pre-injection IOP was 11.26 mmHg (3.51) in group A and 11.49 mmHg (3.61) in group B. The mean IOP by 5 minutes of compression was 6.57 mmHg (4.37)(range 1-14mmHg) and 11.06 mmHg (5.40)(range 3-26mmHg) for groups A and B respec-tively. Over 40% of the subjects in group A had an IOP between 0-5mmHg, while only 11% of those in group B had an IOP in this range. After 10 minutes the mean IOP was 3.37 mmHg (3.12)(range 0-10mmHg) in group A and 8.86 mmHg (3.34)(range 1-26mmHg) in group B; 77% of the subjects in group A compared to 29% of those in group B had an IOP in the range of 0-5mmHg.

Conclusion: Pressure reduction in group A was faster and seemed adequate for over 40% of subjects by 5 minutes of compression, further compression till 10 minutes ensures adequate pressure reduction for both groups but more so for digital massage.