Changes in Central Macular Thickness after Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification Surgery in Diabetic and Non Diabetic Patients

INTRODUCTION: To assess central macular thickness changes after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy and in control group.
METHODS: We prospectively reviewed the records of 43 eyes of patients with mild non- proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 43 eyes of diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy(no-DR),and 43 eyes of a control group that underwent phacoemulsification surgery. Foveal thickness was measured, using optical coherence tomography, preoperatively and one week and one, three, six, and twelve months postoperatively.
RESULTS: No clinically significant differences in foveal thicknesses were observed preoperatively among groups. Foveal thickness increased in the NPDR group one week and one and three months after surgery, in the no- DR group after one week and after one month, and in the control group afterone week. Postoperatively foveal thickness decreased gradually in the NPDR group after three months. When comparing the groups, foveal thickness was significantly higher in the NPDR group than in the no-DR and in the control group at months one and three, postoperatively; however, at month six, differences decreased, and there were no clinically significant differences among groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Foveal thickness increased up to three months after cataract surgery, decreasing graduallythere after in NPDR patients.Foveal thickness also increased to the first month in no- DR group.Foveal thickness increased only in the first week in the control group. These changes are more prominent in eyes with NPDR than in eyes with no-DR and control group.