EFFECT OF PHACOEMULSIFICATION SURGERY ON MACULAR EDEMA IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS
TL;DR
Although a numerical increase in macular thickness was observed over time in operated eyes, this increase was not statistically significant, and further long-term studies involving larger patient populations are needed on this subject.
Abstract
Introduction: Aim of this study is to evaluate macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic patients using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Methods: Fifty eyes of 50 diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery at the Ophthalmology Clinic of Ankara Training and Research Hospital between October 2008 and May 2011 were included in the study. The non-operated eyes were accepted as the control group. All patients included in the study had Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Patients were analyzed retrospectively. In cases where the cataract did not prevent imaging, preoperative OCT was performed to determine central macular thickness (CMT). Patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery were followed up on postoperative day 1, week 1, month 1, and month 3. At all follow-up visits, detailed ophthalmologic examinations and OCT measurements of CMT were performed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 69.0±8.6 years (range: 54–86). Fifteen patients were male (30%) and 35 were female (70%). In the operated eyes, best-corrected visual acuity (LogMAR) values were 1.02±0.44 preoperatively, and 0.45±0.39, 0.26±0.37, 0.21±0.48, and 0.22±0.49 on postoperative day 1, week 1, month 1, and month 3, respectively. The postoperative improvement in visual acuity was statistically significant (p<0.001). OCT measurements showed that preoperative CMT was 214.4±64.9 μm in operated eyes and 200.5±105.1 μm in control eyes. No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (P=0.043). In operated eyes, postoperative CMT values were 223.1±92.2 μm on day 1, 232.7±97.2 μm at week 1, 227.2±80.2 μm at month 1, and 228.9±72.3 μm at month 3. Although a numerical increase in macular thickness was observed over time in operated eyes, this increase was not statistically significant (p>0.0025). In control eyes, CMT values were measured as 197.4±108.0 μm, 199.3±95.6 μm, 189.3±74.0 μm, and 189.0±75.4 μm, respectively. The differences between operated and control eyes at postoperative week 1, month 1, and month 3 were statistically significant (p=0.005, p=0.003, p<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, phacoemulsification surgery was not found to have a significant effect on macular edema in patients with DM. Further long-term studies involving larger patient populations are needed on this subject.