Retinal Thickness Immediately After Cataract Surgery Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in retinal thickness immediately after cataract surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retinal thickness before and 0.5 hours after uneventful cataract surgery was determined in 10 patients at 15 different points at the posterior pole by optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: The mean retinal thickness at the posterior pole was 251 microm (+/-30 microm) before cataract surgery and 249 microm (+/-25 microm) after cataract surgery. No statistical difference between pre- and postoperatively values could be evaluated (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that uncomplicated cataract surgery does not influence retinal thickness immediately postoperatively in eyes without ocular pathologies.