Active-Fluidics Versus Gravity-Fluidics In Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery: Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography To Estimate Early Changes In Macular And Optic Disc Microcirculation.

To compare the early differences in optic disc and macular microcirculation after cataract surgery using an active-fluidics system versus a gravity-fluidics system. 

GEMELLI-ISOLA HOSPITAL, ROME, ITALY, Department of Ophthalmlogy- Vitreo-retinal surgery

We enrolled 50 patients affected by uncomplicated cataracts and we randomly assigned 25 eyes in the active-fluidics system group and 25 eyes in the gravity-fluidics system group. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed immediately at the end of surgery, and 1 day and 7 days after surgery. The OCTA scan was performed using 4.5 X 4.5 mm scan centred around the optic disc and a volumetric scan covering a 6 X6 mm area of the macula

Thirty-six eyes were included in the final analysis due to the early postoperative corneal edema. Both the optic disc capillary density and the superficial capillary plexus vessel density increased after surgery in the gravity-fluidics group comparing with the stability of these values in the active-fluidics group. No OCTA changes were observed in the deep capillary plexus and in the macular thickness in both groups. At 7 days after surgery the values increased more than one day postoperative only in the gravity-fluidics group. 

The active-fluidics system seems to protect the macular and optic disc microcirculation during phacoemulsification.