Zeynep Kamil Med J. 2025; 56(3): 149-154 | DOI: 10.14744/zkmj.2025.33230

Evaluation of central macular thickness and ganglion cell complex analysis following uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery

Osman Kýzýlay¹, Mustafa Suat Alýkma², Sezin Özdoðan Erkul³, Kadir Eltutar^4
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Health Sciences, Turkey. Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Diseases Health Training and Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey
²Department of Ophthalmology, Denizli Servergazi State Hospital, Denizli, Turkey
³Department of Ophthalmology, Health Sciences University, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
⁴Department of Ophthalmology, Medicana Hava Limaný Medical Center, Istanbul, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the changes in central macular thickness (CMT) and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and after uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
METHODS: This retrospective study included 40 eyes from 33 patients who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification at Istanbul Education and Research Hospital Eye Clinic over a nine-month period. Eyes were further categorized based on cataract morphology. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CMT, GCC thickness, and OCT image quality were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at day 1, week 1, month 1, and month 3.
RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 66.7±10.3 years. The mean preoperative CMT was 209.59±25.14 μm. Postoperative CMT values were 220.54±27.20 μm (day 1), 226.26±28.01 μm (week 1), 244.56±23.57 μm (month 1), and 240.29±21.78 μm (month 3). Preoperative mean GCC thickness was 89.78±5.42 μm, while postoperative values were 96.03±6.67 μm (day 1), 101.60±9.22 μm (month 1), and 102.83±8.22 μm (month 3). Statistically significant increases in CMT, GCC thickness, and OCT image quality were observed at all postoperative time points compared to preoperative measurements (p<0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: OCT is a valuable tool for detecting and monitoring morphological changes and macular edema following cataract surgery. Postoperatively, improved OCT image quality enables more reliable measurements of CMT and GCC thickness.

Keywords: Central macular thickness, ganglion cell complex thickness, optical coherence tomography, phacoemulsification.

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