The effect of phacoemulsification of bilateral cataracts, performed at different intervals, on the macular area of the retina

Purpose. A comprehensive assessment of the state of macular retina after phacoemulsification of two eyes performed at different intervals between operations according to optical coherence tomography (OCT) data. Materials and methods. We examined 93 patients (186 eyes) aged 65.7 ± 1.6 years with bilateral age cataract after phacoemulsification of both eyes performed at different intervals between the operations: 1–5 days — 22 patients (44 eyes), 1–3 weeks — 31 patients (62 eyes), 4 or more weeks — 40 patients (80 eyes). Before surgery, visual acuity of the first eye was, on average, 0.38 ± 0.05, while that of the second eye averaged 0.41 ± 0.05. The operations were performed on the «Infiniti Vision System» (Alcon) phacoemulsifier by Ozil technology through a corneal tunnel 2.2 mm long by one and the same surgeon with no complications. The Phaco chop technique was used. All patients underwent retinal examination by Optovue Avante OPT (OPTOVUE, USA) according to the scanning Protocol Raster and, partly, by Retina map (including central retinal thickness and volume of the macula in the 5 mm zone) before the operation, and 1, 2, 4, 12 weeks after surgery, on both eyes. Results. Before surgery, the average central retinal thickness and the volume of the retina in the area of 5 mm, in both operated eyes were almost identical: the first eye revealed 271.0 ± 7.5 μm, and 5.625 ± 0.040 mm³, the second one revealed 270.0 ± 8.5 μm, and 5.628 ± 0.040 mm³. In the postoperative period, the results showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the central retinal thickness and volume in the 5 mm zone before and after surgery in both eyes, regardless of the intervals between operations. Conclusion. The absence of a significant difference in the macular retina response to surgery, confirmed by OCT data, indicated the safety of operations on both eyes regardless of the intervals between them.

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