Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in eyes undergoing cataract surgery using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT).
Methods: :
Prospective, comparative, observational case series. Eyes underwent high-definition raster scanning using Spectral Domain OCT with frame enhancement software (EDI OCT, Spectralis® Heidelberg). The SFCT was measured from the posterior edge of the retinal pigment epithelium to the choroid/sclera junction (vertical distance). Measurements were performed before cataract surgery (small incision phacoemulsification) and 1 day, 7 days, 1 month and 3 month after surgery. All measurements were performed by two independent observers. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate variations of choroidal thickness.
Results: :
Sixty six eyes of fifty two patients were included. The mean SFCT ± SD was 213,7± 68,8 μm before cataract surgery, 216,2 ± 68,5 μm at 1 day, 224,9 ± 65,5 μm at 7 days, 228,8 ± 66,8μm at 1 month and 243,3 ± 65,3 μm at 3 months. The mean SFCT increased significantly from baseline to month 3 (p<0,04). When both eyes of the same patient were included, the choroidal thickness showed a similar trend after each cataract surgery. For diabetic patients, the mean SFCT increased after cataract surgery for eyes without any diabetic retinopathy while it remained stable for eyes with associated diabetic retinopathy. For the three patients who developed an Irvin Gass syndrome during the follow-up, the SFCT was found to be higher.
Conclusions: :
The SFCT seems to increase after cataract surgery. The presence of a diabetic retinopathy may be critical for evaluation of choroidal thickness. EDI OCT should be evaluated in Irvin Gass Syndrome eyes.
Keywords: choroid • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • cataract