Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To measure changes in macular thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT) following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract extraction. Methods: This was a prospective study measuring macular thickness before and after cataract extraction using OCT in patients with and without diabetes. All patients underwent uncomplicated cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation at the Kresge Eye Institute. Best corrected visual acuity was documented preoperatively and at last visit in all patients. Patients with pre–existing retinal pathology, including macular degeneration or macular edema, were excluded. Results: Twenty–four eyes of 23 consecutive patients with an average age of 74 ± 7 years were evaluated. There were 10 males and 13 females; 9 patients were diabetics. Following preoperative OCT measurements, patients were re–scanned at 40 ± 21 days after surgery. The mean foveal thickness in all 24 eyes was 180.5 µm ± 26.3 µm prior to cataract surgery and 196.7 µm ± 30.9 µm following cataract surgery (P < 0.0001). The mean macular thickness was 222.1 µm ± 22.8 µm preoperatively versus 234.6 µm ± 25.2 µm postoperatively (P = 0.0003). In patients with diabetes, mean foveal thickness preoperatively was 194.9 µm ± 18.8 µm and 212.8 µm ± 24.0 µm postoperatively (P = 0.0006). In addition the mean macular thickness in diabetics increased from 230.8 µm ± 8.5 µm preoperatively to 244.6 µm ± 18.8 µm postoperatively (P = 0.0119). Visual acuity showed a mean improvement of 2.5 lines in the entire group and 2.2 lines in diabetics. Conclusions: Mean foveal and macular thickness increased in both diabetics and non–diabetics following cataract extraction measured by OCT. However, although these measured changes were statistically significant, visual acuity improved in all patients, indicating minimal effect on clinical outcome as measured by visual acuity in the early postoperative period.
Keywords: macula/fovea • cataract • visual acuity