Correlation Of Cumulative Dissipated Energy (Cde) And Post-Operative Thickness Of Macula And Choroid In Patients Who Underwent Uncomplicated Phacoemulcification

In the current study, two different hypotheses are examined. First, if the procedure causes changes in the posterior half of the eye and what they are, and secondly if these changes are related to the total amount of ultrasound energy spent in each procedure.

The study took place at Athens General Hospital “Korgialenio – Benakio” Hellenic Red Cross, during the period of September – December 2021.

This is a prospective study that examined 45 eyes of patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery due to lenticular cataract. The parameters measured in the study are the average thickness (µm) and the average volume (mm3) of the macular areas, as well as the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT, µm). For the measurements, spectral-domain OCT was used, with map scanning of 9 predefined areas based on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) and enhanced depth imaging (EDI). The measurements were performed immediately before surgery, on the first postoperative day, the first postoperative week and the first postoperative month. The statistical analysis used the paired t-test and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

The results of the study showed that after an uncomplicated cataract surgery, there is an increase in the thickness and the volume of the macula in the first postoperative month, while failing to demonstrate corresponding changes in the thickness of the choroid, and to associate these changes with the total cumulative dissipated energy spent.

Surgical treatment of cataract by the method of phacoemulsification can cause changes in the homeostasis of both the anterior half of the eye and the posterior as well, with the retina and the choroid as the primary endpoints. Such changes should be taken into account, as they may lead to further pathologies which may result in a permanent decrease or loss of visual acuity.