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Vitreous hyper-reflective dots and the macular thickness after cataract surgery
Jurica Predović1,2,3, Damir Bosnar1,2,3, Leon Marković1,3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Reference Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, University Hospital "Sveti Duh", Zagreb, Croatia.
Plos One
|April 9, 2024
Summary
Vitreous hyper-reflective dots (VHDs) detected after cataract surgery correlate with increased macular thickness. These dots, likely lens fragments, may cause subclinical inflammation and temporary vision changes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Imaging
- Cataract Surgery
Background:
- Phacoemulsification is a common cataract surgery.
- Postoperative macular edema can affect visual outcomes.
- Vitreous hyper-reflective dots (VHDs) are observed post-surgery but their significance is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between vitreous hyper-reflective dots (VHDs) and macular thickness changes after uneventful phacoemulsification.
- To determine if VHDs correlate with central subfield thickness (CST) post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 111 eyes undergoing phacoemulsification.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) used for pre- and postoperative assessment (1 week, 1 month, 3 months).
- Analysis of retinal central subfield thickness (CST) and preretinal VHDs; surgeries reviewed for lens fragments.
Main Results:
- VHDs were present in 22.5% of eyes at 1 week post-surgery, decreasing over time.
- A moderate correlation (r=0.426, p<0.001) was found between VHDs and CST at 1 month.
- Eyes with VHDs showed significantly greater CST compared to those without, particularly at 1 month and 3 months post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Vitreous hyper-reflective dots (VHDs) appear to be associated with macular thickening in the postoperative period.
- VHDs are presumed to be lens fragments causing subclinical inflammation.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the origin and impact of VHDs.
