Small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification: A comparison of central foveal thickness by OCT

Abstract

Aim

There is huge backlog of cataracts in India ,which is the most common cause

(62.6%) of reversible blindness. Since small incision cataract surgery is equally

good and safe procedure for conducting cataract extractions we conducted a

study to see the effect of phacoemulsification and small incision cataract

surgery on foveal thickness by optical coherence tomography.

Materials and methods

In a prospective study 60 patients were randomly distributed to undergo small

incision surgery or phacoemulsification (thirty in each group). They were

evaluated selectively and subjected to Preoperative OCT and Postoperative

OCT at Week 1 and 4 respectively by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence

Tomography and the values of Central Foveal Macular Thickness (CFT) were

compared.

Results

In phacoemulsification group, the average central foveal thickness (CFT)

preoperatively, at week 1, week 4 was 200.33, 207.33 and 201.67 respectively. In SICS group, the average CFT

preoperatively, at week 1 and week 4 was 203.66, 215.33 and 211.86 respectively. The mean CFT in

phacoemulsification and SICS group was compared at week 1 post operatively and week 4 and the difference

was statistically non-significant, (p=0.58 at week 1 and 0.057 at week 4).

Conclusion

There is subclinical increase in foveal macular thickness postoperatively in both phacoemulsification and small

incision cataract surgery. The difference in degree of increase between the two groups was statistically

insignificant. In our opinion small incision cataract surgery is safe and effective mean of treating cataracts,

especially in a country like India which has huge backlog of cataract patients and where majority of trainees

use SICS for cataract surgery.