Central Corneal Thickness Changes after Cataract Surgery in Duhok Eye Hospital

Abstract

Background and objectives: The most prevalent cause of blindness worldwide is cataract, which is especially widespread in low-income countries. Corneal thickness may temporarily rise as a result of surgical damage to the corneal endothelium. This study aimed to determine the changes in central corneal thickness after both cataract surgery methods, extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification, in Duhok eye hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in Duhok Eye Hospital from 30/8/2022 to 23/1/2023 on 212 patients who underwent cataract surgery either by Extracapsular cataract extraction or Phacoemulsification. Ocular examination was done on the affected eye a day before surgery that included measuring the central corneal thickness using Sirius topography Scheimpflug camera, and the intraocular pressure. One day after surgery the second examination was performed, and a third examination was done one month later. Results: Of the 212 patients involved, 126 (59%) were operated by Phacoemulsification procedure. The mean age was 63 and 114 (53.8%) of them were females. The mean central corneal thickness of all patients was 530.11 µm on the day before operation increased to 573.0 µm the day after surgery and decreased again to 548.75 µm after one month. The increment of the central corneal thickness after surgery was more in those operated by phacoemulsification and this difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Central corneal thickness increases immediately after cataract surgery both by extracapsular cataract extraction and phacoemulsification and return to a level near the preoperative one about one month after surgery. The increase is significantly more with phacoemulsification.