[Macular thickness after cataract surgery in diabetic patients].
OBJECTIVE
Macular edema after cataract surgery is the main cause of unfavorable visual outcome and more common in diabetic patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the time course of change in macular thickness in diabetic patients, compared with that in nondiabetic patients after uneventful cataract surgery.


METHODS
We examined 36 diabetic eyes and 30 nondiabetic controls preoperatively and 1, 3, 7, 30, 90, and 180 days postoperatively, using a Retinal Thickness Analyzer (RTA). Aqueous flare intensity and visual acuity were also measured.


RESULTS
Macular thickening and an increase in aqueous flare were marked in diabetic eyes and controls on the first postoperative day. In nondiabetic patients, these subtle changes improved gradually and returned to near-normal within 6 months. In diabetic patients, prolonged and progressive macular thickening was observed 6 months after surgery. Macular edema in diabetic patients had a propensity to cause poorer 6-month visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
RTA is useful for early detection of macular edema. Using RTA, we demonstrated that cataract surgery induced subclinical macular edema even in nondiabetic subjects and that progressive macular edema might cause poor visual outcome in diabetic patients.
Nakayama
Miyuki
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Rosai Hospital.
Emi
Kazuyuki
K
D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity