Purpose: To measure central macular thickness change after Nd: YAG capsulotomy using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Material and methods: 55 patients (43 females and 12 males), mean age 65.1 +/- 13.9 years (range 21-87) who underwent Nd: YAG capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification. Patients were examined preoperatively and one day, one week, one month, three months and six months after Nd: YAG capsulotomy. Central retinal thickness was measured by Stratus IV OCT Optical Coherence Tomography from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. using "fast macular thickness" map protocol. All patients underwent ophthalmic examination including best-corrected visual acuity, fundus examination and intraocular pressure measurement.
Results: The initial median and range of the central retinal thickness was 212 microm (168-228), after one day 207 microm (168-232), after one week 207 microm (166-241), after one month 207 microm (163-252), after 3 months 207 microm (171-242), and 210 microm (170-235) 6 months after treatment. Proportional changes of the central retinal thickness was after one day -0.5 (-13.3 to 5.6), after one week 0.5 (-11.6 to 8.1), after one month -0.4 (-8.3 to 14.5), after 3 months 0.5 (-8.7 to 10.0) and 6 months after capsulotomy 0.5 (-5.8 to 7.7). There was no statistically significant change of the central macular thickness in any time point. Cystoid macular edema was observed in three patients 9.0 and 14 weeks after treatment. No other complications were noticed.
Conclusions: Laser capsulotomy should be considered as a safe procedure for the macula. Optical coherence tomography is a useful diagnostic method that can be used in qualification and monitoring of patients undergoing Nd: YAG capsulotomy.