IOP tends to increase approximately 1 hour after cataract extraction and usually returns to normal within 1 week. Etiologies include retained viscoelastic material or lens particle(s), pupillary block, hyphema, pigment dispersion, and generalized inflammation. Patients at greatest risk include those with ocular hypertension, glaucoma, preoperative IOP >22 mm Hg, and intraoperative complications. Most healthy eyes can tolerate an IOP up to 30 mm Hg for many months. However, eyes with preexisting optic nerve damage require IOP-lowering medications for any significant pressure increase. Prostaglandin analogs are generally avoided postoperatively because of their proinflammatory characteristics and delayed onset of action. Most eyes with an IOP >30 mm Hg should be treated. If inflammation is excessive, increase the topical steroid dose to every 2 hours while awake and consider a topical NSAID (e.g., ketorolac, flurbiprofen or diclofenac q.i.d., bromfenac b.i.d., or nepafenac daily). See 9.7, INFLAMMATORY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA.