J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2013 Oct;54(10):1573-1580.

Changes in Optic Nerve Parameter Measurements on Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography, after Cataract Surgery

• Lee KS
• Kim YM
• Kim JH
• Ahn JM
• Chung WS
• Choi JB
• Park KS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic nerve head parameters after cataract surgery by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).
METHODS
Twenty-nine eyes of 26 patients, who underwent cataract surgery, were imaged with spectral-domain OCT before and after surgery to measure peripapillary RNFL thickness and optic nerve head parameters, signal strength (SS), quadrant, 12 clock-hour RNFL thickness, rim area, disc area, cup/disc area ratio, vertical cup/disc ratio, and cup volume.
RESULTS
The postoperative RNFL thickness and SS were higher than before surgery (p < 0.05). Regarding optic nerve head parameters, rim area was 0.07 +/- 0.10 mm2 higher than before surgery and disc area, cup/disc area ratio, vertical cup/disc ratio, cup volume were 0.07 +/- 0.15 mm2, 0.04 +/- 0.04, 0.03 +/- 0.05, 0.04 +/- 0.06 mm3, respectively, lower than before surgery (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Cataracts may decrease peripapillary RNFL thickness measurement and SS on OCT scans and change other optic nerve head parameters. Peripapillary RNFL thickness and optic nerve head parameter measurements should be interpreted with caution in eyes with significant cataracts.

Keyword

Cataract surgery; Optical coherence tomography; Optic nerve

MeSH Terms

Cataract*
Eye
Humans
Nerve Fibers
Optic Disk
Optic Nerve*
Retinaldehyde
Tomography, Optical Coherence*
Retinaldehyde

Reference

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