Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of the study is to investigate the changes of macular perfusion by OCT-angiography (OCT-A) after uncomplicated phacoemulsification.MethodsOCT-A was performed before cataract surgery, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery recording superficial vascular complex (SVC), nerve fiber layer vascular plexus (NFLVP), superficial vascular plexus (SVP), deep vascular complex (DVC), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), as well as large choroidal blood vessels and choriocapillaris (CC). Explant area (EA), vessels area (VA), vessels percentage area (VPA), total number of junctions (TNJ), junctions density (JD), total vessels length (TVL), average vessels length (AVL), total number of end points (TNEP), and mean lacunarity (ML) throughout all layers were analysed.ResultsSignificant changes of vascular parameters in 55 eyes of 55 patients mostly reached plateau one week after surgery and remained stable up to 3 m after surgery, occurring in all retinal layers but not in choroid and CC. The greatest increase in VPA (22.79%), TVL (16.71%), AVL (166.71%) and JD (29.49%) was in SVC. On the contrary, the greatest change of ML (− 53.41%) appeared in DVC.ConclusionsThis is the first OCT-A study demonstrating perfusion alterations in macula after phacoemulsification due to functional hyperaemia. We presume the effect is evoked by increased light intensity stimulation of retina after cataract removal. Accordingly, phacoemulsification in elderly population could have advantageous feature in addition to restoring visual acuity.
Highlights
The purpose of the study is to investigate the changes of macular perfusion by optical coherence tomography (OCT)-angiography (OCT-A) after uncomplicated phacoemulsification
This study monitored vascular parameters of retinal blood vessels across nerve fiber layer vascular plexus (NFLVP), superficial vascular plexus (SVP), Superficial vascular complex (SVC), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), Deep vascular complex (DVC), as well as CC and large and medium choroidal blood vessels revealing that uncomplicated phacoemulsification significantly improved macular hemodynamics
Major results A significant increase in vessels area (VA), vessels percentage area (VPA), total number of junctions (TNJ), junctions density (JD), total vessels length (TVL) and average vessels length (AVL) was found, followed by the decrease in total number of end points (TNEP) and mean lacunarity (ML) manifesting rise in blood supply of the central macula after phacoemulsification (Additional file 1: Table S3; Table S4)
Summary
The purpose of the study is to investigate the changes of macular perfusion by OCT-angiography (OCT-A) after uncomplicated phacoemulsification. The exact impact of phacoemulsification, one of the most common surgical procedures in the world [1], on macular perfusion is unknown [2, 3]. One of the tissues with the highest metabolic requirements in the body [5, 6], three layers of the retinal blood vessels exist: superficial, deep, and intermediate layer [6]. Deep vascular complex (DVC), formed of intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), is located deeper in the inner nuclear (INL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL) [5]. The superficial layer contains arterioles, venules, and capillaries, while the deep layer consists of capillary-sized blood vessels [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
