Analysis of Postoperative Macular Edema in Cataract Patients with Diabetes using Optical Coherence Tomography

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and progression of macular edema (ME) and associated risk factors in diabetic patients. METHODS: In a prospective study, 66 eyes were assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and best-corrected visual acuity was checked before operation at one and three months after operation. ME was defined as an increase of central macular thickness (CMT) by 30% or more after surgery than before operation, as measured by OCT. RESULTS: The incidence of ME in diabetic patients was 8.8%. The increment of CMT at three months after cataract surgery was statistically significant in the patients of diabetic duration> or =10 years (p=0.049). But insulin treatment, the severity of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy and hemoglobin A1C were not significant risk factors for ME. CONCLUSIONS: The OCT might be useful to assess the ME after cataract surgery in diabetic patients. In the patients who had long been suffered from diabetes, the incidence of ME could be higher, so cataract surgery should be carefully considered.