Posters

Analysis of choroidal thickness changes after phacoemulsification surgery

Poster Details

First Author: H.Bayhan TURKEY

Co Author(s):    S. Aslan Bayhan   C. Gurdal           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To analyze the effects of uneventful phacoemulsification surgery on choroidal thickness (CT) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Setting:

Bozok University Faculty of Medicine, Ophthalmology Department. Yozgat, Turkey.

Methods:

In this prospective study, 38 eyes of 38 patients having phacoemulsification surgery were included. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination including axial length (AXL) measurement with optical biometry (Lenstar LS 900, Haag-Streit AG, Switzerland) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. The CT is measured perpendicularly at the fovea, and 1.5 mm temporal, 3.0 mm temporal, 1.5 mm nasal and 3.0 mm nasal to the fovea using SD-OCT (RTVue-100, Optovue) preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Changes in the CT after surgery, and correlation of this change with age, AXL, preoperative IOP, and IOP change were evaluated.

Results:

There was a statistically significant increase in the CT at all regions evaluated. This increment was more prominent in the nasal and subfoveal regions. The IOP was decreased significantly one month after surgery (16.34±4.14 mmHg vs 13.41±4.86 mmHg, p<0.001). The change in IOP was correlated with the CT changes at all regions, whereas age, AXL and preoperative IOP had no significant correlations with the changes in CT.

Conclusions:

Phacoemulsification surgery causes significant increase in CT which is correlated with surgery induced IOP change in the short term. Long-term follow-up of eyes having phacoemulsification surgery may provide further insight into the effects of cataract surgery on the choroid. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE