title: Macular thickness changes after phacoemulsification combined with primary posterior curvilinear capsulorhexis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes in central macular thickness measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after cataract surgery combined with primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six eyes of 40 consecutive patients who had uneventful phacoemulsification and in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation surgery with primary PCCC, taking place between August 2005 and January 2006 in Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital, were enrolled. Patients with a history of previous ocular surgery, eye trauma, uveitis, or glaucoma, or any systemic disease such as diabetes mellitus, were excluded from the study. None of the cases had macular pathology before surgery. OCT was performed in all patients preoperatively and postoperatively on the first day, first week, and first, third, and sixth months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant quantitative changes from the preoperative examination were observed in the postoperative first week, first month, and third month (p<0.05). The difference between the mean preoperative and postoperative sixth month central macular thickness was not statistically significant (p=0.20). The greatest change in mean macular thickness was noted in the first month visit. No patient developed cystoid macular edema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because primary PCCC does not have an adverse effect on macular integrity, this procedure may be preferred especially in patients with a high risk of posterior capsular opacification.
authors.affiliation: Beyoğlu Eye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. ahmettaylan19@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmet Taylan
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Ercument
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Cig Dem
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Altan
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alagoz
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000379:methods*; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult