The effect of phacoemulsification surgery on pupil dimensions obtained at different light intensities in diabetic and non-diabetic cases

Aim: To evaluate the effect of phacoemulsification surgery on pupil dimensions obtained with different light intensities in diabetic and non-diabetic cataract cases.Materials and Methods: The study was performed at the Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine Department of Eye Diseases between May and October, 2012. Forty-nine cataract patients aged between 40 and 85 were included. Patients were divided into two groups, diabetic and non-diabetic. Pupillometric measurements at illumination levels of 0, 1, 10, 100 and 200 Cd/m2 were performed separately on both eyes of all patients in the preoperative period. Complication-free phacoemulsification surgery was later performed on individuals? eyes with cataracts with the poorer vision, and foldable intraocular lenses were implanted. Pupillometric measurements at illumination levels of 0, 1, 10, 100 and 200 Cd/m2 were repeated in the 1st and 4th weeks postoperatively for both eyes in all patients. The results were compared statistically.Result: Preoperative pupil dimensions of eyes that had undergone cataract surgery in the diabetic group at illumination levels of 0, 1, 10, 100 and 200 Cd/m2 were 4.9±1.1, 4.3±1.1, 3.5±0.8, 2.6±0.3 and 2.4±0.2 mm, respectively. In the 1st week postoperatively dimensions were 3.8±0.7, 3.4±0.5, 2.9±0.4, 2.4±0.1 and 2.2±0.1 mm. 4th week postoperative measurements were 4.2±0.9, 3.8±0.8, 3.2±0.6, 2.6±0.2 and 2.3±0.1 mm. In the non-diabetic patient group, these values were 5.6±0.9, 4.9±0.8, 3.9±0.7, 2.7±0.2 and 2.4±0.2 mm in the preoperative period, 4.7±0.8, 4.0±0.7, 3.3±0.5, 2.5±0.1 and 2.3±0.1mm in the 1st week postoperatively and 5.1±0.8, 4.5±0.7, 3.6±0.6, 2.7±0.2 and 2.4±0.1mm in the 4th week postoperatively, all respectively. Changes observed in pupil dimensions at all light intensities in eyes undergoing cataract surgery in the diabetic and non-diabetic groups in the 1st and 4th weeks postoperatively were statistically significant (p<0.05 for all).Conclusion: Pupil diameters decreased in the 1st week after cataract surgery in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In the 4th week, they increased compared to 1st week levels but did not reach preoperative values. The miotic effect of cataract surgery was more pronounced in diabetic cases.