2M.D. Bitlis State Hospital, Eye Clinic, Bitlis/TURKEY Purpose: To evaluate the macular thickness (MT) and correlation with visual acuity in diabetic and non-diabetic cases after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery.
Material and Methods: Preoperative and postoperative MT were compared by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in non-diabetic (Group 1) and diabetic (Group 2) cases who underwent cataract surgery. The correlation between MT and visual acuity were investigated.
Results: The mean age of 35 cases was 66.1 years in Group 1 and of 30 cases was 68.1 years in Group 2 (p=0.400). In Group 1, postoperative central MT was higher than before only at first month; in Group 2, it was higher at first, third and sixth month (p<0.01). Three mm MT was higher in Group 1 in all quadrants at first and third month; in Group 2, it was higher in superior and inferior quadrants at first week, and in all quadrants at first, third and sixth month. Six mm MT was higher in Group 1 in all quadrants at first month, in inferior quadrant at third month; in Group 2, it was higher in inferior and nasal quadrants at first week, in all quadrants at first and third month, in inferior and temporal quadrants at sixth month. No correlation was detected between visual acuity and central MT in Group 1, whereas correlation was detected in Group 2 at third and sixth month.
Conclusion: After cataract surgery, it is essential to use OCT in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of macular edema that may develop particularly in diabetic cases.
Keywords : Diabetes, macular edema, optical coherence tomography, phacoemulsification, visual acuity