Evaluation of macular changes by optical coherence tomography after non-complicated phacoemulsification surgery

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of uncomplicated cataract surgery on central macular thickness by using Optical Coherence Tomography. Patients and methods: 100 eyes of 50 patients, without any systemic disease, ocular or fundus pathology, underwent unilateral uncomplicated cataract surgery were included in the study. The unoperated other eyes were sampled as a control group. Central macular thickness measurements of patients were performed by using Optical Coherence Tomography (Carl Zeiss, Cirrus HD OCT) prior and after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of surgery. Statistical analysis were performed according to obtained values by SPSS 13.0 Statistical analysis programme (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Mean best corrected visual acuity measurement was 0.25±0.13 with Snellen chart prior to surgery and improved to 0.97±0.04 with Snellen chart after 3 months of surgery. This increase was found to be statistically significant (p<0.005). Results: Central macular thickness measurements of cases in the study group were 248.56±21.67 µm, 249.08±21.36 µm, 250.26±19.8 µm, 254.3±24.81 µm and 251.36±21.3 µm; prior and after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of surgery, respectively. There was an increase in all measurements after surgery compared to values before surgery. However, the increase at 1st day after surgery was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Central macular thickness measurements of cases in the control group were 250.80±21.47 µm, 251.46±21.44 µm, 251.36±21.41 µm, 251.3±21.51 µm and 251.32±20.87 µm; prior and after 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of surgery, respectively. There was an increase in all measurements after surgery compared to values before surgery, as well. Nevertheless, none of the increases were found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). vi One of the patients in the study group developed cystoid macular edema 1 month after surgery. Cystoid macular edema had disappeared 3 months after surgery by topical non steroid anti-inflamatory drugs and oral carbonicanhydrase inhibitor treatment and finally, best corrected visual acuity reached 1.0 with Snellen chart. Conclusion: In our study, even if it didn‟t effect the final visual acuity, a moderate increase of central macular thickness was observed at the 1st month after uncomplicated cataracy surgery. However, this increase tend to show a decrease by the 3rd month after surgery