Changes in macular vasculature after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery: Optical coherence tomography angiography study.

PURPOSE: To use optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography and a split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography algorithm to evaluate the changes in the macular vascular system after uncomplicated phacoemulsification.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and and Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

DESIGN

Prospective case series.

METHODS

Patients with senile cataracts were included. Retinal vessel density and thickness at the macular area were checked by OCT at baseline and at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after cataract surgery.

RESULTS

Thirty-two eyes (32 patients) were included in the final analysis. There was a significant increase in retinal vessel density, a decrease in the foveal avascular zone at the macular area after the cataract surgery (all P < .05, repeated-measures analysis of variance), and an increase in full and inner macular thickness, all of which extended to the end of the follow-up period. At 3 months postoperatively, there was a mean 6% and 3% increase in vessel density at the parafoveal and perifoveal regions, respectively, and a mean 27% reduction in the foveal avascular zone. The mean increase in inner retinal thickness was 15%, 10%, and 7% at the fovea, parafovea, and perifovea, respectively. Compared with the parafovea and perifovea, the fovea had a much higher percentage of change in retinal vasculature and inner retinal thickness (all P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Macular vessel density and thickness increased after cataract surgery. Whether these changes will persist over a longer period still needs to be studied.