Retinal thickness changes after phacoemulsification

Abstract

Gede Pardianto,1 Nila Moeloek,2 Julia Reveny,1 Sutarman Wage,1 Imsyah Satari,3 Rosita Sembiring,1 Nuttamon Srisamran4,5 1Sumatera Utara University, Medan, 2University of Indonesia, Jakarta, 3Sumatera Eye Center, Medan, Indonesia; 4Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Thailand; 5The World Medical Center, Nonthaburi, Thailand Purpose: To determine the effect of phacoemulsification on macular volume and thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations. Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 27 subjects who underwent phacoemulsification were studied. All nine areas of the macula were examined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and 2 months postoperatively. Effective phacoemulsification time and absolute phacoemulsification time were also recorded. Results: There were statistically significant differences in macular thickness between preoperative and postoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations in nine areas including macular volume. In the paracentral macular area, the thickness of three quadrants significantly increased (superior P=0.015; temporal P=0.001; and nasal P=0.023). Peripheral macular thickness also increased significantly in the superior (P=0.05) and temporal macular areas (P0.05), but a significant correlation (P=0.011) was found between absolute phacoemulsification time and change in macular volume. Conclusion: Macular thickness changes in the nasal, superior, and temporal quadrants of the paracentral area and the superior and temporal quadrants of the peripheral area, as well as macular volume, may be used as detailed biomarkers to measure the effects of intraocular pressure fluctuations and maneuvers in phacoemulsification intraocular surgeries. Keywords: phacoemulsification, effective phaco time, absolute phaco time, SD-OCT, macula