Evaluation of Central Corneal Thickness with Ultrasound Pachymetry After Micro-Coaxial Cataract Surgery

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients with different values before cataract surgery. Material and Method: 90 eyes of 70 patients who had undergone uneventful cataract surgery because of senile cataract were included in this prospective study. The CCT was measured by ultrasound pachymetry. The patients were evaluated in 4 groups according to preoperative CCT values (group 1: 450-500 mu m, group 2: 501-550 mu m, group 3: 551-600 mu m, and group 4: 601-650 mu m). The CCT was measured preoperatively and at 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 8th weeks postoperatively. The chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The increase in CCT was highest in group 1 determined as 71.3 mu m. The increase in group 2 was 43.4, 35.1 in group 3, and 16.6 mu m in group 4. The increase in CCT was significant in all groups at week 1 (p<0.05). The increase in group 1 was statistically significant than in groups 3 and 4 (group 1 and group 3, p=0.025; group 1 and group 4, p<0.01). The increase in group 2 was also statistically significant than in group 4 (p=0.032). The CCT was decreased after the 2nd week. The recovery of CCT to preoperative values was determined at 8th week in group 1, 4th week in groups 2 and 3, and 2nd week in group 4. Discussion: In thin corneas, the increase in central corneal thickness is more prominent and stabilization occurs in a longer time after cataract surgery.