Effect of Ultrasound Time on Macular Thickness and Visual Acuity in Cataract Surgery

• Published in: Turk oftalmoloji gazetesi Vol. 41; no. 5; pp. 286 - 290
• Main Authors: Gürsel Özkurt, Zeynep, Oba, Ersin, Dirim, Ayşe Burcu, Odabaşı, Mahmut, Tiryaki, Semra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Yayinevi 01-10-2011
• Subjects: macular thickness; Phacoemulsification surgery; spectral-domain optical coherence tomography; ultrasound time; visual acuity
• ISSN: 1300-0659; 2147-2661
• DOI: 10.4274/tjo.41.33042

Pur po se: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound time on macular thickness and the influence of macular thickness on visual acuity after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery. Ma te ri al and Met hod: In this study, 42 eyes of 30 cataract patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery were evaluated. The phacoemulsification was performed using 20% “pulse mode” ultrasound energy. The ultrasound time of each case was noted. Visual acuity (logMAR) and macular thickness were measured pre- and postoperatively. Macular thickness was measured by “spectraldomain” optical coherence tomography using “macular map 6” (MM6) programme. Re sults: All patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery showed a statistically significant improvement in bestcorrected visual acuity in postoperative first and third months (p=0.001). When minimum central macular, mean central zone, mean parafoveal and mean perifoveal macular thicknesses in the postoperative first week, first month and third month were compared with the preoperative values, a statistically significant increase in all zones was detected (p=0.001). The mean ultrasound time applied was 128 sec. ±11 SD: 70.17. No statistically significant correlation was found between ultrasound time and increase in macular thickness in the postoperative first week, first month and third month. There was no significant correlation between best-corrected visual acuity and minimum central macular/central zone macular thickness. Dis cus si on: This study shows that in patients who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification surgery, there is an increase in macular thickness independent of ultrasound time. We also found no correlation between macular thickness and visual acuity. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 286-90)