Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Ophthalmology

Purpose: to evaluate the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell complex (GCC) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after uneventful cataract extraction surgery in both glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous patients. Design:a prospective case controlled observational study. Methods: fifty eyes of 48 subjects were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: Group1: Twenty five eyes of twenty three patients who had cataract extraction without any other preexisting retinal or optic nerve pathology. Group2: Twenty five eyes of twenty five patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) controlled on medical treatment who were diagnosed with cataract that needed cataract extraction surgery.The subjects underwent RNFL& GCC thicknesses analysis before and six weeks following cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation using OCT.Results: there was a significant increase in RNFL from 103.59±(9.36) to 111.85±(9.54)om in group 1 and from 88.91±(17.55) to 95.65±(18.82)om in group 2( p < 0.001) for both groups, and in GCC from 94.70±(7.15)to 100.71±(13.57)om (p=0.008) in group 1 and from 85.11±(11.94)to 90.82±(14.49)om in group 2 with (p < 0.001)following surgery. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.001) while intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.001). On comparing the change in parameters following surgery between the two groups it was found to be statistically non-significant

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