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Choroidal thickness increases to be expected after cataract surgery in elderly patients
Elderly patients with senile cataracts can be expected to maintain increases in subfoveal choroidal thickness for at least 6 months following cataract surgery, according to researchers.
The researchers included 29 eyes of 29 patients with senile cataracts who received standard phacoemulsification and IOL implantation from 2012 to 2013 in an observational case series. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure subfoveal choroidal thickness and central retinal thickness at baseline and at months 1, 3 and 6.
Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was found to increase significantly after surgery, from 193.8 µm at baseline to 208.9 µm, 210.2 µm and 209.3 µm at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively, after surgery. No significant increase in mean central retinal thickness from baseline to any of the time points was seen, according to the researchers.
In 20 eyes, subfoveal choroidal thickness remained high even 6 months postoperatively. Three eyes returned to baseline subfoveal choroidal thickness in 3 months, and six eyes returned to baseline thickness in 6 months.
Male sex and thicker baseline choroidal were significant factors in predicting larger increases in subfoveal choroidal thickness in a multiple regression analysis, according to the researchers. No postoperative complications were reported.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.