Evaluation of choroidal thickness changes after phacoemulsification surgery

Seray Aslan Bayhan, Hasan Ali Bayhan, Ersin Muhafiz, Kadir KırboÄŸa, Canan Gürdal Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, Yozgat, Turkey Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of uneventful phacoemulsification surgery on choroidal thickness (CT) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: In this prospective study, 38 eyes of 38 patients having phacoemulsification surgery were included. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination, including preo­perative axial length (AXL) measurement with optical biometry and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. The CT was measured perpendicularly at the fovea and 1.5 mm temporal, 3.0 mm temporal, 1.5 mm nasal, and 3.0 mm nasal using SD-OCT preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Changes in the CT after surgery and correlation of this change with age, AXL, preoperative IOP, and IOP change were evaluated. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the CT at all regions evaluated. This increment was more prominent in the nasal and subfoveal regions. The IOP decreased significantly 1 month after surgery (16.14±4.94 mmHg vs 13.91±4.86 mmHg; P<0.001). The change in IOP was correlated with the CT changes at all regions, whereas age, AXL, and preoperative IOP had no significant correlations with the changes in CT. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification surgery may cause significant increase in CT, which is correlated with surgery-induced IOP change in the short term. Long-term follow-up of eyes having phacoemulsification surgery may provide further insight into the effects of cataract surgery on the choroid. Keywords: phacoemulsification, choroidal thickness, optical coherence tomographyA Letter to the Editor has been received and published for this article.