Comparative analysis of central corneal thickness and macular thickness changes following phacoemulsification and small incision cataract surgery: A prospective study

To quantify the changes in central corneal thickness and macular thickness after uncomplicated cataract surgery and to compare its outcomes in terms of visual acuity. : A total of 81 patients with senile cataract who were scheduled for either Phacoemulsification or SICS surgery were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: 41 patients underwent Phacoemulsification and 40 patients underwent SICS. CCT and CMT were measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT) preoperatively and postoperatively at Day 1, day 7, week 6 and 3 months. : Preoperative baseline measurements showed no significant difference in CCT and MT between the two groups (p > 0.05). Central corneal thickness showed significant differences between the two groups at different postoperative time points at day 1 and day 7. Central macular thickness also showed significant differences at day 7 and 6 week, with the SICS group showing consistently higher macular thickness values compared to the Phacoemulsification group from day 1 to 3 months after surgery. This suggested that the type of cataract surgery may have had an impact on retinal thickness outcomes, with more pronounced and permanent changes occurring in the SICS group. In addition, both group A (SICS) and group B (Phacoemulsification) showed good visual outcomes, with comparable improvements in BCVA. : Our results suggested that both SICS and Phacoemulsification techniques are effective in improving visual acuity, but SICS may result in more pronounced retinal changes while faster resolution of macular thickness was seen in phacoemulsification. Both groups also exhibited transient subclinical changes in CCT following cataract surgery. However, these changes were generally reversible, and early recovery occurred after phacoemulsification. The visual acuity was improved after both procedures but phacoemulsification surgery showed slightly better visual outcomes. Understanding these differences may help to adjust postoperative treatment strategies to optimize outcomes for patients undergoing cataract surgery.