Foveal thickness after phacoemulsification in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, or primary open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: To use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess changes in foveal thickness after uneventful phacoemulsification in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXF), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG), or primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Kocaeli, Kocaeli, Turkey.

Methods: This prospective observational case series comprised 87 eyes (87 patients) that had phacoemulsification. Thirty-three were control eyes with cataract and no ocular disease, 15 eyes had POAG, 22 eyes had PXF, and 17 eyes had PXG. Foveal thickness was measured by OCT preoperatively and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Intraocular pressure was recorded preoperatively and 8 weeks postoperatively.

Results: In all groups, the mean foveal thickness was statistically significantly greater at all postoperative visits than preoperatively. The mean change in foveal thickness was higher in the POAG group than in the PXF and control groups at 2 and 8 weeks. The mean increase in foveal thickness was greater in the PXG group than in the control group and the PXF group at 2 and 4 weeks. Three patients (1 patient in each group except PXF) developed clinically significant cystoid macular edema (CME); the incidence of CME was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Foveal thickness measured by OCT increased in patients with POAG and PXG and was higher than in the control group and the PXF group after uneventful phacoemulsification.