title: Choroidal and macular thickness changes induced by cataract surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of uneventful phacoemulsification on the morphology and thickness of the macula, the submacular choroid, and the peripapillary choroid.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 14 eyes from 14 patients, retinal macular thickness, choroidal submacular thickness, and choroidal peripapillary thickness were measured preoperatively and at one week and one month after phacoemulsification using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Changes in thickness of the different ocular tissues were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant increase in mean retinal macular thickness at one month. In horizontal scans, the mean increase was +8.67±6.75 μm (P<0.001), and in vertical scans, the mean increase was +8.80±7.07 μm (P=0.001). However, there were no significant changes in choroidal morphology in the submacular and peripapillary areas one month after surgery. In vertical scans, there was a nonsignificant increase in choroidal thickness (+4.21±20.2 μm; P=0.47) whilst in horizontal scans a nonsignificant decrease was recorded (-9.11±39.59 μm; P=0.41). In peripapillary scans, a nonsignificant increase in mean choroidal thickness was registered (+3.25±11.80 μm; P=0.36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uncomplicated phacoemulsification induces nonpathologic increases in retinal macular thickness probably due to the inflammatory insult of the surgery; however these changes are not accompanied by significant changes in choroidal thickness. In the posterior segment, the morphologic response to the inflammatory insult of phacoemulsification is mainly observed at the retinal level, and seems to be independent of choroidal thickness changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal ; Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Nuno M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal ; Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Freitas-Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: João B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Beato
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal ; Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Amândio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rocha-Sousa
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal ; Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elisete M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal ; Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital de São João, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Falcão-Reis
keywords: choroidal thickness; macular thickness; phacoemulsification; prostaglandins