| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4029660 | Ophthalmology | 2007 | 9 Pages |
ObjectiveTo assess the incidence or progression of macular edema (ME) after cataract surgery in diabetic patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and correlating this with degree of diabetic retinopathy or other risk factors.DesignProspective cohort study.ParticipantsFifty diabetic eyes undergoing cataract surgery.MethodsEach eye underwent 7-field fundus photography no more than 3 months before surgery. Optical coherence tomography testing was performed within 4 weeks before surgery and at 1- and 3-month postoperative visits. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was recorded at each visit. Macular edema was defined as an increase of center point thickness on OCT > 30% from preoperative baseline.Main Outcome MeasuresChanges in foveal thickness and BCVA.ResultsThe incidence of ME on OCT was 22% (95% confidence interval, 13%–35%). The average increase in center point thickness at 1 month for eyes with ME was 202 μm, which resulted in a nearly 1-line loss of vision (0.07 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] units) compared with eyes without ME gaining >2 lines of vision (0.24 logMAR units) (P>0.001). Eyes with no diabetic retinopathy developed minimal thickening of 18 μm and 14 μm at 1 and 3 months, respectively, associated with approximately 2 and 3 lines of improved vision, respectively (0.22 and 0.26 logMAR units). Eyes with moderate or severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy developed thickening of 145 μm and 131 μm at 1 and 3 months, respectively, associated with <1 and 2 lines of improved visual acuity, respectively (0.08 and 0.17 logMAR units). This difference (P = 0.05) in thickening (127 μm and 117 μm at 1 and 3 months, respectively) was correlated inversely with visual improvement (r = −0.662). Both duration of diabetes ≥ 10 years (P = 0.04) and insulin dependence (P = 0.007) were associated with reduced visual improvement.ConclusionsDiabetic eyes have a high incidence of increased center point thickness on OCT after cataract surgery, associated with a loss of vision at 1 month, with limited visual recovery at 3 months. Treatment to prevent this might improve outcomes in similar individuals after surgery.
