Incidence of preoperative rise in blood pressure (BP) in cataract surgery among hypertensive and normotensive patients. Objective: To study the incidence of preoperative rise in BP in cataract surgery among normotensive individuals and hypertensive patients with historic good BP control in a population without other major chronic diseases. Settings: Ophthalmology Service of a University Hospital. Materials and Methods: A prospective study with 822 patients older than 40 years of age, with cataract surgery indication, and without major chronic diseases other than hypertension. The patients were divided in two groups: hypertensive and normotensive. Preoperative data, physical exams and medical adverse events were recorded in an evaluation questionnaire. Results: The sample included 427 normotensive (52%) and 395 hypertensive patients (48%). The two groups had similar proportions of operations that were cancelled and not subsequently rescheduled, 2% (eight patients) in each group. The incidence of preoperative rise in BP was 3.7% in the normotensive group and 10.9% in the hypertensive group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with historic good BP control and without other major co-morbidities present a larger incidence of preoperative rise in BP than normotensive individuals in cataract surgery.586493495