Central corneal thickness changes after phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes occurring in central corneal thickness (CCT) immediately after uneventful cataract surgery.


METHODS
Thirteen consecutive patients who had uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by the same experienced surgeon were prospectively evaluated for CCT measurements 1 hour preoperatively and 1 hour, 1 day, and 1 week postoperatively. The unoperated eye also had CCT measurements simultaneously on all occasions and served as a control. All patients provided informed consent.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant, UK RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 69 years. Central corneal thickness was 550.34 microm preoperatively, 626.39 microm at 1 hour, 585.80 microm at 1 day, and 553.80 microm at 1 week. In the control group, CCT remained stable, within +/-2 microm of preoperative readings.


CONCLUSIONS
Central corneal thickness increased by approximately 13.81% in the immediate postoperative period (at 1 hour). It remained increased by 6.44% on day 1 compared with preoperative values and gradually reduced to preoperative levels by the 1-week postoperative period (0.57% difference). Intraocular pressure (IOP) measured postoperatively in the first week may be falsely elevated to some extent because of the increased corneal thickness in the immediate postoperative period; thus, not all IOP rises have be treated in this period in healthy uncompromised eyes.
Salvi
Sachin M
SM
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom. drsachin@doctors.org.uk
Soong
Terrence K
TK
Kumar
Balakrishna V
BV
Hawksworth
Nicholas R
NR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies