Early changes of choroidal and macular thickness after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the changes in choroidal and macular thickness after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery and to know whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) choroidal thickness normative data should be considered the same preoperatively and postoperatively or not. Patients and methods A prospective interventional study including 120 eyes of 90 patients with immature senile cataract was carried out. Retinal macular thickness and choroidal submacular thickness were measured preoperatively and 4 weeks after phacoemulsification using Optovue RTVue spectral domain OCT. Changes in thickness of the choroid and macula were evaluated. Results The mean preoperative choroidal thickness was 211.640±35.7 μm in horizontal and vertical scans, while the mean postoperative choroidal thickness was 239.927±51.33 and 231.789±42.6 μm in horizontal and vertical scans, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative choroidal thickness (P=0.003 and 0.006) in horizontal and vertical scans, respectively. However, there was no significant change in mean macular thickness (P=0.065). Conclusion Uncomplicated phacoemulsification induces a nonpathological increase in choroidal thickness probably due to the inflammatory effect of the surgery. However, these changes are not accompanied by significant changes in retinal macular thickness. Postoperative OCT choroidal thickness nomograms should be different from preoperative ones.