The Effects Of Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery On Ocular Elasticitiy And Retrobulbar Blood Flow

Today, modern phacoemulsification technique is commonly used in cataract surgery. This technique has various effects on the eye structure due to the nature of the application even though it is applied carefully. Aim :To examine the effects of uncomplicated cataract surgery on the elasticity of eye tissues and retrobulbar blood flow.

Duzce University Ophthalmology Clinic

53 eyes of 53 patients with senile cataract and 55 eyes of 55 age-sex matched volunteers were included in our study. The cases in the cataract group underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery and their Shear wave elastography and Doppler ultrasonography examinations were performed at 1st and 3rd months after cataract surgery in addition to initial examinations performed for all cases.

At the end of the three-month follow-up, a decrease in retina-choroid-sclera complex, lateral rectus muscle, retrobulbar fat tissue and, optic disc elastography values; a relatively stable course in the medial rectus muscle elastography values, and an isolated increase in the optic nerve elastography values were observed in cases with phacoemulsification. Doppler results for the same group showed a decrease in vascular resistance with a decrease in peak systolic velocity, an increase in end-diastolic velocity, and a decrease in resistance index.

According to our results, an increase in ocular elasticity with a decrease in vascular resistance is observed following uncomplicated cataract surgery. The results need to be confirmed by well-planned clinical studies with different scenarios in large samples.