Evaluation of cystoid macular edema after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery by optical coherence tomography

In our study we aimed to measure patients macular thickness changes in subjects undergoing cataract surgery with optical chorence tomography and to assess the correlation with visual acuity and fundus fluorescein angiography.Ninety-one eyes of 88 subjects undergoing in uncomplicated cataract surgery in Afyon Kocatepe University Eye Clinic between December 2008 and May 2009 were included in the study.Patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery for senile cataract without any complications and with regular follow up, without any systemic or ocular disease were included in the study. Detailed ophthalmologic examination was performed to all patients. Macular thickness was measured preoperatively and at postoperative at 1st week 4th week, 12th weeks and 24th weeks with optical coherence tomography and FFA was performed postoperative at 12th week. Mean central macular thickness, and macular thickness in superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants were measured by OCT.Data was evaluated using one way ANOVA test, paired t test, using Bonferroni correction.The increase in central macular thickness measured by OCT, at postoperative 1st week 4th week, 12th weeks and 24th week was statistically significant compared to preoperative values (p = 0.043). Postoperative increase in central macular thickness started in the 1st week, although the most significant increase was seen at 12th week (p = 0.028)Preoperative measurements of perifoveal macular thickness in the temporal quadrant is 300.62±34.69 µm, the nasal quadrant is 311.27±35.73 µm, superior quadrant is 312.72±19.78 µm, inferior quadrant is 306.96±20.88 µm and measurements of perifoveal macular thickness at postoperative 12th week in the temporal quadrant is 312.93±20.33 µm, in the nasal quadrant is 312.93±20.33 µm, superior quadrant is 323.74±21.26 µm and the inferior quadrant is 321.63±22.13 µm (p <0.001 for all quadrants).The increase in macular thickness did not correlate with visual acuity at postoperative 1st and 4th weeks but there was a significant correlation at 12th and 24th weeks.The cystoid macular edema rate at postoperative 12th week taken by FFA (%3.1) l ess than the CME rate seen with OCT (%5.04).As a result, optical coherence tomography is helpfull in detecting cystoid changes and thickness increase of macula at earlier stages, but these changes do not affect the patients visual acuity. Abnormalities affecting visual acuity can be shown by both FFA and OCT