Abstracto

Changes in central corneal thickness before and after phacoemulsification cataract surgery

May D'souza, Dilon Noronha

Aim: To evaluate the effect of an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery on Central Corneal thickness (CCT).

Methods: 77 consecutive patients who had an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by the same experienced surgeon were prospectively evaluated for Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and CCT measurements 1 day preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week and 1 month postoperatively.

Result: A marked rise was seen in the mean CCT measured within 24 hours after surgery (583.22 μm), which gradually decreased at one week (552.57 μm) and returned to normal baseline values (539.9 μm) in almost all operated eyes in 1 month time. There is no statistically significant difference in the mea n CCT before surgery (538.23 μm) and at 1 month (p=0.685).

Conclusion: The mean CCT substantially increases after post-operative uneventful cataract surgery but returns to normal baseline values in almost all operated eyes in 1 month time. IOP measured during this period may be falsely higher than the true values due to increased CCT and thus not all IOP rises have to be treated during this period.