Optical coherence tomography and cataract surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an unstructured review of the recent literature on the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in cataract surgery with specific focus on cystoid macular edema (CME) on the basis of expert opinion of the authors.

RECENT FINDINGS: OCT appears to be a useful method to reveal clinically relevant postsurgical CME and is complementary to fluorescein angiography. A majority of eyes demonstrate minimal increases in postoperative retinal thickness after cataract surgery on OCT, though those eyes that do develop clinically relevant CME show substantial increases. Using at least 40% increase in retinal thickness from baseline on OCT may be a valid, objective, and uniform method of defining CME. Preoperative and postoperative OCT evaluations in selected eyes at high risk (diabetes, uveitis) for CME may be warranted.

SUMMARY: OCT has become a useful diagnostic tool to assess CME after cataract surgery.