Clinical factors affecting subfoveal choroidal thickness and choroidal vascularity index after phacoemulsification for cataracts

Purpose: To investigate clinical factors affecting subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) after cataract surgery. Methods: A retrospective medical record review was performed of 62 patients (95 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery. The SFCT and CVI were calculated based on cross-section measurements obtained from enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months. The changes in SFCT and CVI were analyzed with respect to anesthesia, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and phaco power/time. Results: Regardless of anesthesia, DM, or HTN, SFCT had increased at 1 week postoperatively and continued to decrease up to 2 months postoperatively. In the case of topical anesthesia and patients without DM or HTN, the CVI was significantly higher at 1 month postoperatively, but was followed by a steady reduction up to the 2-month follow-up. In the case of retrobulbar anesthesia and patients with DM or HTN, the CVI increased up to 2 months postoperatively. Conclusions: In this study, clinical factors had a significant impact on the change in CVI after surgery, but not on the SFCT. This suggests that the presence of DM affects the change in the choroidal vessels after cataract surgery.