Macular thickness after cataract surgery with intracameral cefuroxime.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the use of prophylactic intracameral cefuroxime during phacoemulsification cataract surgery is associated with increased macular thickening in the postoperative period.

SETTING

Hull and East Yorkshire Eye Hospital, Hull, United Kingdom.

METHODS

In this prospective randomized double-masked clinical study, the study group received 1 mg of intracameral cefuroxime and the control group received intracameral balanced salt solution only. Ocular coherence tomography was performed 5 (+/-1) weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

Intracameral cefuroxime did not have a statistically significant effect on postoperative macular thickness compared with nonadministration of intracameral antibacterials. All patients in both groups achieved a postoperative best corrected visual acuity of 6/9 or better.

CONCLUSION

Use of 1 mg of intracameral cefuroxime was not associated with increased macular thickness 4 weeks to 6 weeks postoperatively.