Influence of Cataract Surgery on Macular Thickness — A 3-Month Follow-Up

This prospective follow-up study evaluated the longer term changes to macular thickness and volume following cataract surgery. The study included 23 patients (23 eyes) who underwent ambulatory cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation, followed by a scheduled optical coherence tomography measurement of macular thickness and volume after 3 months. Results were compared with preoperative data and measurements taken at 1 month after surgery, which were recorded in a previous study. A comparison of preoperative macular thickness values with those at 3 months after surgery demonstrated that the latter values remained greater in all macular regions except the superior outer macula, and that the differences were significant in the fovea, nasal inner macula and inferior outer macula. When macular thickness at 3 months after surgery was compared with that measured at 1 month, decreases were observed in all perifoveal areas, suggesting the reversible nature of cataract surgery-related macular thickness changes.