Effect of phacoemulsification surgery on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness

Purpose: To determine RNFL thickness changes after phacoemulsification using OCT and GDx. Methods: A prospective nonrandomised study was performed including 66 eyes of 54 cataract patients undergoing uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery between the dates of april 2014 and october 2015 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine. OCT and GDx measurements were obtained before and after 6 mounths post operatively. The just comparision of pre and post operative values of RNFL were done using unpaired t-test and Wilcoxan test. Results: Post-operative RNFL values obtained by using GDx were decreased (p=0,021), but RNFL values of optic nerve head OCT measurements were increased (p<0,05) and also macular topographic values were increased (p<0,05). Conclusion: The results of the study demonstrated that phacoemulsification surgery has an significant effect on both optic nerve head and macular RNFL values. Further studies are needed to eliminate the contradictory results of the studies in the literature about the late period effect of phacoemulsification on RNFL thickness, Keywords: Cataract, Phacoemulsification, Scanning Laser Polarimetry, Optical Coherence Tomography, Retina, Optic Nerve