Investigating The Changes Of Macular Vasculature After Phacoemulsification In Patients With Simple Cataract Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Objective To evaluate the changes of macular vasculature after phacoemulsification in patients with simple cataract by optical coherence tomography angiography(OCT-A).Methods Patients with simple cataract were enrolled(fifty-seven eyes of forty-seven patients).The thickness of the macular area and vascular density of the retina were examined by OCT-A at baseline and at 1 week,1 month,and 3 months after cataract surgery.It mainly includes the area of foveal avascular zone,the thickness of the retina in the fovea,parafovea,and perifovea,the shallow and deep blood flow density in the parafovea,and perifovea.Results Compared with preoperative,the thickness of the retina in the fovea,parafovea,and perifovea at the full macular area were significantly increased at 1 month and 3 months after operation(P<0.05),mainly in the inner retina.There was no significant difference in the blood vessel density around the fovea and the fovea of the whole macula at 1 week,1 month and 3 months after operation(P>0.05).Only at 1 month after operation,the vessel density of the perifovea at the deep macular area was significantly higher(P<0.05).In addition,the area of foveal avascular area(FAZ)at 1 month and 3 months after surgery was significantly lower than that before surgery(P<0.05).Conclusion The thickness of the macula increased,the area of FAZ reduced and the density of peripheral fovea had no significant change after phacoemulsification.There was no significant change in blood flow density in the macular area.