Comparative analysis of central corneal thickness changes after cataract surgery at a tertiary hospital, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed ophthalmic surgery to restore vision, so it is imperative for any surgeon performing cataract surgery to consider the health status of a cornea, most especially the central corneal thickness and document these parameters pre and post operatively for good visual outcome. This study aims to assess the effect of conventional extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) on central corneal thickness (CCT) in eyes of Nigerian adults with age-related uncomplicated cataract in order to obtain relevant information that will aid in improving cataract surgical outcome. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective interventional study where all consecutive patients 40years and above with uncomplicated age-related cataract that presented to the hospital and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study until the minimum sample size was obtained. Two hundred and seventy-seven (277) cataract eyes of 269 patients were randomly selected and assigned to either MSICS or conventional ECCE with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation. Preoperatively the CCT was measured with a non-contact specular microscope. Post operatively these measurements were repeated at 1 week, 4 weeks and 12 weeks respectively. Results: Of the 277 eyes studied, 263 (94.9%) were analysed. The mean age of patient for MSICS and ECCE was 64.03 (SD+11.2, range 40–95 years) and 62.69 (SD+10.48, range 42–94 years) respectively with male to female ratio of 1.9: 1. CCT increased in both groups at one week postoperatively but these values returned to preoperative values at 12 weeks after surgery. Conclusions: The two cataract procedures induced a similar and transient increase in CCT postoperatively with return to normal values at 12 weeks.