Retinal Thickness Changes After Phacoemulsification
Narrative Responses:
Purpose
To determine the effect of phacoemulsification on macular volume and thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examinations.
Methods
Twenty-seven eyes of 27 subjects that underwent phacoemulsification were studied. All 9 areas of macula were examined by SD-OCT pre-operatively and 2 months post-operatively. Effective Phaco Time (EPT) and Absolute Phaco Time (APT) were also recorded.
Results
There are statistically significant differences in macular thickness between pre and post SD-OCT examinations in 9 areas including macular volume. Onparacentral macular area, the thickness of 3 quadrants was significantly increased (superior P = 0.015; temporal P = 0.001; and nasal P = 0.023). Peripheral macular thickness also increased significantly on superior P = 0.05; and temporalP < 0.001. The macular volume increased significantly after phacoemulsificationP < 0.001. There were no correlations between APT/EPT and macular cellular structures (P > 0.05) but a significant correlation (P = 0.011) was found between APT and change in macular volume.
Conclusion
Macular thickness changes in areas of paracentral’s nasal, superior and temporal, peripheral’s superior and temporal; and macular volume may be used as new biomarkers to measure the effects of IOP fluctuations and maneuvers in phacoemulsification intraocular surgeries.