Posters

Evaluation of corneal parameters in early postoperative period after cataract surgery

Poster Details

First Author: L.Semeklis LITHUANIA

Co Author(s):    J. Budeniene   I. Pasiskeviciute   L. Kuzmiene              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT), average keratometry, apex keratometry, keratorefractive astigmatism at 3mm and 5mm area in month follow-up period after uneventful cataract surgery.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics.

Methods:

A prospective pilot-study of 22 eyes was completed. The median age of the participants was 75 years, 68.2% were female. All patients underwent uneventful phacoemulsification through a 2.4 mm temporal corneal incision. All surgeries were performed by the same experienced surgeon. Patients were examined before the surgery, one day, a week, two weeks, three weeks and four weeks after the surgery. During each examination average CCT was calculated from 10 measurements using ultrasound pachymetry, keratometry values were recorded using Topcon ALADDIN optical biometry and topography system.

Results:

Baseline CCT (554µm) increased at first postoperative day (585µm), p<0.001 and returned to baseline (567µm) after three weeks, p=0.005. Apex keratometry after surgery slightly increased (+46.61D) and gradually decreased until third postoperative week (+46.38D). Preoperative astigmatism at 3mm (-0.66D) increased after surgery (-1.025D), p> 0.001, and gradually decreased until third week (-0.73D). Baseline astigmatism at 5mm (-0.72D) has not changed after surgery (-0.82D), but the decrease was observed after first week (-0.73D), p=0.02. Preoperative average keratometry (+44.06D) has not changed after surgery (+43.84D) neither after month (+43.96D).

Conclusions:

Increase of CCT in early postoperative period after uneventful cataract surgery was observed which returned to preoperative value in three weeks. No significant changes of apex and average keratometry readings was found, but it could have impact on increased central (3 mm zone) corneal astigmatism, which also returned to preoperative value in three weeks after the surgery. Paracentral (5 mm zone) postoperative corneal astigmatism remained for one week after surgery. Different stabilization time of postoperative corneal astigmatism might be due to the regrouping of thickened cornea layers.

Financial Disclosure:

None