Abstract
Introduction: The incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after cataract surgery varies substantially and depending on the diagnostic method used. In addition, other factors that influence the incidence of CME are the technique of surgery and the associated comorbidities. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of EMC after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery, using the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: The incidence of sub-clinical and clinical CME was evaluated in 14 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery, using OCT before the surgical procedure and after seven and 28 days after it. The volunteers could not use a prostaglandin analogue or present any retinopathy that compromised visual acuity. Results: The incidence of clinically significant CME was 6.4%, however retinal thickening by OCT was observed in all patients in the fourth postoperative week. Regarding gender and laterality, the percentages were similar. Conclusion: In this study, we obtained a low incidence of EMC in patients assisted at this center, corroborating multicenter studies.
Highlights
The incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after cataract surgery varies substantially and depending on the diagnostic method used
The following data were collected: age, gender, laterality, corrected visual acuity before surgery (CVA/BS), corrected visual acuity after 1 week of surgery (CVA/A1W), corrected visual acuity after 4 weeks of surgery (CVA/A4W), time, ultrasound intensity used (UIU), macular central thickness of 1 mm in diameter measured by the optical coherence tomography (OCT) before, after 1 week and after 4 weeks of surgery
Patients were divided into three groups according to the UIU in each surgery (0 to 5 metrics - Group 1, between 5 and 10 metrics - Group 2; and greater than 10 metrics - Group 3), and the incidence was evaluated of clinical and subclinical CME in each group
Summary
The incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) after cataract surgery varies substantially and depending on the diagnostic method used. Despite advances in cataract surgery, such as microincision and new phacoemulsification techniques, CME can occur even in the absence of complications[3] This develops due to the breakdown of the hematoretinal barrier, causing accumulation of fluid in the extracellular space of the retina and formation of cysts in the external plexiform and internal nuclear layers[4,5]. The incidence of CME varies substantially in the literature depending on the diagnostic method used. For such detection, clinical examination, angiographic examination or optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination can be performed.
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