The effects of uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery on choroidal thickness, and ganglion cell complex thickness

AIM:Cataract is themostimportantcause of visionlossandblindnessworldwide, especially in developingcountries. Weplannedthisretrospectivestudytoinvestigatetheeffect of phacoemulsificationsurgery, which is verycommontodayforthetreatment of senilecataracts, on thechange in thechoroidandganglion cellcomplexthicknesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourtyeyes of fourtypatientswhounderwentuncomplicatedphacoemulsificationsurgeryandintraocular lens implantationduetosenilecataractswereincluded in ourstudy. Thehardnessgrading of thenucleus in thepatientswasperformedaccordingtothe Oxford ClinicalCataractClassificationandGradingSystembased on thecolor of thenucleus Complete ophthalmologicalexaminations of thepatientswereperformed in thepreoperativeperiodand at thepostoperative 1st month. Subfovealchoroidalthickness, ganglion cellcomplexthickness, centralmacularthickness, and retinal nerve fiber layerthicknessmeasurementsweremadewiththehelp of Spectral-domain opticalcoherencetomography. RESULTS: Weobserved a significantincrease in thesubfovealchoroidalthickness,centralmacularthickness, ganglion cellcomplexthickness, and retinal nerve fiber thickness in thepatients in ourstudyduringthepostoperative 1st monthcomparedtothepreoperativevalues. Subfovealchoroidalthicknessand ganglion cellcomplexthicknesswere not associatedwithage, gender, centralcornealthickness, axiallength, operation time, andeffectivephacoemulsification time. CONCLUSION:Evenifthesurgery is uncomplicated, the posterior segment is likelyto be affectedbecause of increasedinflammationbyphacoemulsification. Inordertoevaluatetheimpacts of phacoemulsification, which is themostfrequentlyperformedsurgery in thetreatment of cataracts, in the posterior segment, studieswithlongerfollow-upperiodsandmorecasesareneeded. Keywords:Phacoemulsification,opticalcohorencetomography, choroidalthickness