Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate by means of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) subclinical macular changes in the post- operative period of uneventful cataract surgery.
Methods: :
In a prospective study retinal thickness values of the foveal sectors were measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT/SLO ) (Spectralis OCT; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg Germany )in 20 eyes (12men and 8 women, mean age 69.2 years) who underwent cataract surgery. Phacoemulsification was performed under topical anesthesia. Mean foveal thickness (MFT) were measured preoperatively, at 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks postoperatively. At these visits, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and slit-lamp examination were performed. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis, and P<0.05 value was considered significant.
Results: :
The mean central foveal retinal thickness was preoperatively 266.6+/- 16.7 micron, postoperatively 267.8 +/- 16.33 micron at 1st day (p = 0.81), 272.45 +/- 16.73 micron at 1st week (p = 0.27), 276.99 +/- 16.11 micro m at 1st month(p<0.05).No significant change of the thickness values could be measured 1 day after surgery. However, a significant increase could be detected 30days postoperatively. No clinical cystoid macular edema was diagnosed in this study. No correlation between macular thickening and visual acuity could be found.
Conclusions: :
After cataract surgery, a mild increase of foveal thickness after 1 month without impact on visual acuity could be observed. This increase may be due to both subclinical changes and to the influence of changes in media opacity on the measurement technique.
Keywords: cataract • edema • macula/fovea