Quantitative evaluation of inflammation after phacoemulsification surgery: anterior chamber flare and choroidal vascular index.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between phacoparameters and inflammation parameters (anterior chamber flare (ACF), macular and peripapillary choroidal vascular index (mCVI and pCVI)) changes after cataract surgery.

Study design: Prospective study METHODS: This prospective observational study included patients without systemic and ocular diseases who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery that may have affected intraocular inflammation. Preoperative, postoperative 1st week, 1st, 3rd and 6th months ACF were measured. At the same visits, mCVI and pCVI were calculated. The relationship between phacoparameters and postoperative ACF, mCVI and pCVI values were evaluated by correlation analysis.

Results: Fifty eyes of 50 patients were included in the study. Postoperative 1st week ACF was significantly higher than preoperative ACF (p<0.001). ACF decreased significantly from postoperative 1st week to 6th months. Postoperative 1st month and 3rd month mCVI were significantly higher than preoperative mCVI (p<0.001, p=0.04, respectively). It was observed that pCVI reached its peak value in the 1st postoperative week and decreased to base value in the postoperative 6th month. A strong positive linear correlation was found between total cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) and the difference between postoperative 1st week and preoperative ACF (p<0.001, r=0.68).

Conclusion: Particularly in the early period after phacoemulsification, ACF, mCVI and pCVI increased. The increase in ACF lost its significance at the third month and the increase in mCVI and pCVI remained significant, which may indicate that the inflammatory effect of cataract surgery lasts longer in the posterior segment. Total CDE can be used to predict postoperative inflammation levels.