Does Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Affect the Choroidal Response After Uneventful Phacoemulsification

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Choroidal Imaging
• Cataract Surgery Outcomes

Background:

• Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) is a common condition associated with cataracts.
• Phacoemulsification is a standard surgical procedure for cataract removal.
• Understanding choroidal changes post-surgery is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal thickness variations after phacoemulsification.
• To compare these changes in cataract patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS).

Main Methods:

• Prospective, interventional controlled study involving 19 PXS and 19 non-PXS cataract patients.
• Choroidal thickness measurements (total, small vessel layer, large vessel layer) taken pre- and post-surgery (D1, W1, M1, M2, M3).
• Specific focus on subfoveal and peripapillary regions.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in total subfoveal choroidal thickness (tSFCT) were observed between W1 and M1 in both groups, with greater increases in the PXS group.
• The small choroidal vessel layer (SF-SCVL) thickness showed a substantial increase at M1 in the non-PXS group compared to the PXS group.
• Peripapillary choroidal thickness differed significantly between groups only at the inferior measurement point.

Conclusions:

• Cataract patients with PXS demonstrate a different choroidal thickness response post-phacoemulsification compared to non-PXS patients.
• Increased choroidal thickness in PXS eyes was mainly in Haller's layer.
• In non-PXS eyes, increased thickness was observed in the choriocapillaris and Sattler's layer.