Long-term variations in retinal parameters after uncomplicated cataract surgery

Background: Cataract phacoemulsification surgery provides excellent refractive results; however, it also elicits changes in the posterior segment of the eye. This study aimed to determine changes in retinal parameters measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) after an uncomplicated cataract surgery, including the impact of effective phacoemulsification time (EPT). Methods: The study included 44 patients without retinal abnormalities, followed up after unilateral uncomplicated cataract phacoemulsification in a single ophthalmological unit. Patients were evaluated for the following parameters at baseline and at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months after the surgery: best corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness (CRT), average central retinal thickness (CRTA), central retinal volume (cube volume (CV)), vessel density central (VDC), vessel density full (VDF), vessel perfusion central (VPC), and vessel perfusion full (VPF). The EPT recorded at each procedure was used as a covariant for the evaluation of changes in retinal parameters after the surgery. Analysis included 44 eyes for SD-OCT and 17 for OCTA evaluation, according to adopted scan quality thresholds. Results: A significant increase in CRT, CRTA, and CV was noted at each follow-up point compared with baseline. The rising tendency was observed in the first 3 months after the surgery, with a decline over the subsequent months. The VPF parameter showed a stable improvement after the surgery. The analysis of covariance did not confirm any significant effect of the EPT on variations in CRT, CV, CRTA, VDC, and VPF and there was a weak effect on the VDF parameter. Conclusions: Uncomplicated cataract surgery results in an increase in retinal thickness and volume in the first few months after the surgery, followed by a spontaneous decline in these parameters in the subsequent months. A long-standing improvement is noted in the VPF parameter.