Analysis of Macular Capillary Plexuses after Cataract Surgery via Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#We used optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to evaluate changes in the vessel densities of macular capillary plexuses after cataract surgery. @*Methods@#We performed a retrospective chart review of 24 eyes of 24 cataract patients who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery from July 2018 to June 2019. The changes in vessel density (VD) in the macular superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), inside the disc, and in the peripapillary area and foveal avascular zone (FAZ), were analyzed on OCTA images obtained preoperatively and at 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively. @*Results@#The VDs of the foveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 15.42 ± 6.61 and 28.43 ± 7.62% preoperatively to 17.20 ± 6.21 and 30.52 ± 7.06% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). The VDs of the parafoveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 47.28 ± 5.76 and 53.06 ± 3.89% preoperatively to 50.34 ± 5.00 and 53.90 ± 4.20% at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.002, p = 0.014). The VDs of the perifoveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 45.20 ± 5.01 and 46.62 ± 5.89% preoperatively to 48.52 ± 4.32 and 50.96 ± 5.57% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). The VDs of the area inside the disc, and of the peripapillary area and FAZ, did not change significantly (p = 0.068, 0.332, and 0.206, respectively). @*Conclusions@#After cataract surgery, the VDs of the SCP and DCP increased significantly at 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively.