Retinal thickness changes after phacoemulsification.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of phacoemulsification on macular volume and thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations.


METHODS
Twenty-seven eyes of 27 subjects who underwent phacoemulsification were studied. All nine areas of the macula were examined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and 2 months postoperatively. Effective phacoemulsification time and absolute phacoemulsification time were also recorded.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences in macular thickness between preoperative and postoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography examinations in nine areas including macular volume. In the paracentral macular area, the thickness of three quadrants significantly increased (superior P=0.015; temporal P=0.001; and nasal P=0.023). Peripheral macular thickness also increased significantly in the superior (P=0.05) and temporal macular areas (P<0.001). The macular volume increased significantly after phacoemulsification (P<0.001). There were no correlations between absolute/effective phacoemulsification time and macular cellular structures (P>0.05), but a significant correlation (P=0.011) was found between absolute phacoemulsification time and change in macular volume.


CONCLUSIONS
Macular thickness changes in the nasal, superior, and temporal quadrants of the paracentral area and the superior and temporal quadrants of the peripheral area, as well as macular volume, may be used as detailed biomarkers to measure the effects of intraocular pressure fluctuations and maneuvers in phacoemulsification intraocular surgeries.
Sumatera Utara University, Medan, Thailand.
Gede
G
Pardianto
Nila
N
Moeloek
Julia
J
Reveny
Sutarman
S
Wage
Imsyah
I
Satari
Rosita
R
Sembiring
Nuttamon
N
Srisamran
SD-OCT; absolute phaco time; effective phaco time; macula; phacoemulsification