EVALUATION OF CHOROID THICKNESS CHANGES AFTER UNEVENTFUL PHACOEMULSIFICATION SURGERY USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY AT A TERTIARY CARE EYE HOSPITAL

Objective: To analyze the effects of uneventful phacoemulsification surgery on choroidal thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from Jun 2018 to Jun 2019. Methodology: In this prospective study, 300 eyes of 300 patients undergoing phacoemulsification surgery were included. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination, including measurement with optical biometry, intraocular pressure and choroid thickness. The choroidal thickness was measured perpendicularly at the fovea using spectral domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Changes in intraocular pressure and choroid thickness after surgery were evaluated. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the choroid thickness in early postoperative period (p-value <0.01). This increment was prominent in sub foveal regions. The intraocular pressure decreased significantly 1 month after surgery (p-value <0.01). The change in intraocular pressure was correlated with the choroid thickness change at sub foveal region. Conclusion: Uncomplicated phacoemulsification induces non-pathologic increase in sub-foveal choroid thickness probably due to the inflammatory insult of the surgery. Long-term follow-up of eyes having phacoemulsification surgery may provide further insight into the effects of cataract surgery on the choroid.