Macular perfusion analysed by optical coherence tomography angiography after uncomplicated phacoemulsification: benefits beyond restoring vision

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study is to investigate the changes of macular perfusion by OCT-angiography (OCT-A) after uncomplicated phacoemulsification. METHODS: OCT-A was performed before cataract surgery, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery recording superficial vascular complex (SVC), nerve fiber layer vascular plexus (NFLVP), superficial vascular plexus (SVP), deep vascular complex (DVC), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), as well as large choroidal blood vessels and choriocapillaris (CC). Explant area (EA), vessels area (VA), vessels percentage area (VPA), total number of junctions (TNJ), junctions density (JD), total vessels length (TVL), average vessels length (AVL), total number of end points (TNEP), and mean lacunarity (ML) throughout all layers were analysed. RESULTS: Significant changes of vascular parameters in 55 eyes of 55 patients mostly reached plateau one week after surgery and remained stable up to 3 m after surgery, occurring in all retinal layers but not in choroid and CC. The greatest increase in VPA (22.79%), TVL (16.71%), AVL (166.71%) and JD (29.49%) was in SVC. On the contrary, the greatest change of ML (− 53.41%) appeared in DVC. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first OCT-A study demonstrating perfusion alterations in macula after phacoemulsification due to functional hyperaemia. We presume the effect is evoked by increased light intensity stimulation of retina after cataract removal. Accordingly, phacoemulsification in elderly population could have advantageous feature in addition to restoring visual acuity. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-021-01837-2.