Effectiveness of Cataract Uncomplicated Surgery on Retina Thickness

Abstract

Background: The most common preventable cause is cataract for the loss of vision, and pseudophakic cystoid macular edema, also called Irvine-Gass syndrome, is a well-known complication after cataract surgery. Objective: To determine changes in total retinal thickness after cataract uncomplicated surgery. Objective: To determine changes in total retinal thickness after cataract uncomplicated surgery. Methodology: A prospective quasi experimental study was done at the department of Ophthalmology of Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalakot AJK between September and December 2022. Total 28 patients (28 eyes) who underwent phacoemulsification uncomplicated surgery and grafting of intraocular lens in unilateral eye were included. The effective phacoemulsification time and total energy used during phacoemulsification cataract surgery was noted. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan was performed to analyze the retina thickness. Data were collected preoperatively, which serves as a baseline measurement. This baseline measurement was used to compare with measurements taken at postoperative day 1, end of week 1, end of month 1, and follow-up period month 3 to assess changes in various parameters such as total retinal thickness. Results: The patient’s mean age comprising of 20 (71.4%) males and 8 (28.6%) females was 54.73±7.6 years. Typically, there is a transient decrease in retinal thickness, immediately after surgery (day 1), followed by a gradual increase in thickness over the weeks (first week) and months (1st & 3rd month) following surgery. Overall, a positive correlation was seen between phacoemulsification time, total energy, and changes in the retinal thickness (1mm & 1-3mm grids) (p ? 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that a follow-up period of at least 3 months is generally recommended after surgery of cataract to assess the whether preoperative levels return of total retina. Methods: A prospective quasi experimental study was done at the department of Ophthalmology of Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalakot AJK between September and December 2022. Total 28 patients (28 eyes) who underwent phacoemulsification uncomplicated surgery and grafting of intraocular lens in unilateral eye were included. The effective phacoemulsification time and total energy used during phacoemulsification cataract surgery was noted. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan was performed to analyze the retina thickness. Data were collected preoperatively, which serves as a baseline measurement. This baseline measurement was used to compare with measurements taken at postoperative day 1, end of week 1, end of month 1, and follow-up period month 3 to assess changes in various parameters such as total retinal thickness. Results: The patient’s mean age comprising of 20 (71.4%) males and 8 (28.6%) females was 54.73±7.6 years. Typically, there is a transient decrease in retinal thickness, immediately after surgery (day 1), followed by a gradual increase in thickness over the weeks (first week) and months (1st & 3rd month) following surgery. Overall, a positive correlation was seen between phacoemulsification time, total energy, and changes in the retinal thickness (1mm & 1-3mm grids) (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion. The study concluded that a follow-up period of at least 3 months is generally recommended after surgery of cataract to assess the whether preoperative levels return of total retina.