EARLY OCT ANGIOGRAPHY VARIATIONS IN MACULAR AND PERIPAPILLARY AREA AFTER UNCOMPLICATED CATARACT SURGERY

Published 2023 - 27th ESCRS Winter Meeting

Reference: P024 | Type: Free Paper Submission | DOI: 10.82333/4wha-bf46

Authors: Matteo Mario Carlà* ¹ , Antonio Baldascino ² , Tomaso Caporossi ² , Stanislao Rizzo ²

¹Ophthalmology Department,“Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS” ,Rome,Italy, ²Ophthalmology Department,“Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS”,Rome,Italy

Purpose

Cataract surgery determines change in retinal features, along with refractive outcomes. The aim of this research is to ascertain changes in both macular and peripapillary vascular parameters, evaluated by OCT angiography (OCTA), after uncomplicated cataract surgery, as well as the influence of effective phacoemulsification time (EPT) and cumulative dissipated energy (CDE).

Setting

Prospective observational monocentric study.

Methods

This is a prospective observational monocentric study on 65 individuals, without retinal abnormalities, who underwent unilateral, uncomplicated cataract phacoemulsification. Cataract density grade was assessed, while EPT and CDE parameters were collected intraoperatively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), superficial vessel density, deep vessel density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters and peripapillary vessel density were all measured at baseline, one week and one month following surgery, using Solix full–range OCT Angiography (Optovue Inc, Freemont CA, USA).

Results

The mean age of the patients was 67.8 ± 10.9 years and the rate male/female was 35/30. When compared to baseline, there was a significant increase in both superficial and deep foveal density at last follow up (from 42.9±4.2 and 37.3±7.4 to 45.6±5.4 and 43.7±9.0 %, p=0.002 and p=0.0001, respectively). Both foveal avascular zone’s area and perimeter showed a significant decrease compared to the preoperative value (p < 0.05). On the other hand, compared to preoperative period, peripapillary vascular density showed a significant increase at week one (from 49.6±2.7 to 51.4±4.6%, p=0.01), which returned to preoperative values at last follow up (49.3±4.0 %, p = 0.95). The analysis of covariance did not confirm any significant effect of the EPT and CDE on vascular changes.

Conclusion

In eyes that underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery, we assessed significant increase in the vascular parameters of the macular area, while peripapillary vascular density only experienced a transient increase. In the postoperative phase, OCTA offers valuable information in the assessment and monitoring of these alterations.