Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in ‎Axial High Myopic Patients after Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification

Abstract

Background: ‎On examining the RNFL thickness by OCT, the media opacity caused ‎by cataract will increase light scattering and absorption, so the RNFL thickness measurement can be increased after uncomplicated cataract surgery also, inflammatory reaction by mechanical injury of phacoemulsification ‎surgery, traction reaction of optic nerve head induced by parts of vitreous liquefaction in ultrasonic emulsification process, with the addition of optic ‎neuropathy from ultrasonic energy. For all above, these factors could increase NFL thickness.‎ Aim: Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in axial high myopic ‎patients after uncomplicated phacoemulsification.‎ Patients and Methods: Our patients collected from outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology ‎department; Tanta University and outpatient clinic at Ophthalmology ‎department of Matarya Teaching Hospital during the period from December 2019 to June 2020 and extended to December 2020 due to Covid_19 ‎pandemic.‎ ‎Results: This study including 20 eyes of high axial myopic  cataracts patients (group Ⅰ) and 10 eyes of normal cataracts patients (group II)  from which age range between (50-70) years old , males were (30%) and females were (70%) in group Ⅰand males (50%) were equal to female (50%) in group II. Conclusion: There is a significant increase in thickness of peripapillary RNFL measured by OCT after 1 week of uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery. ‎This increase in thickness occurs as the media opacity caused by cataracts increases the light scattering and absorption thus affects the quality ‎of measurements which improves after cataract extraction.‎