Effect of cataract surgery and foldable intraocular lens implantation on retinal nerve fiber layer as measured by scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensator.

PURPOSE Scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) enables the measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in vivo. As SLP measurements can be influenced by several conditions such as corneal birefringence, the new version GDx Access is implemented by the variable corneal compensator (VCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cataract extraction and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on SLP parameters measured by GDx Access. METHODS Sixty-eight eyes of 68 patients undergoing phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation (silicone and acrylic) were examined by SLP before and after surgery. SLP was performed using GDx Access (with VCC). Mean values for SLP parameters were compared before and after 30 days from surgery with paired two-tailed Student's t-test. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were found between SLP parameters before and after cataract surgery, and regardless of the type of IOL implanted. CONCLUSIONS Phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation do not influence RNFL parameters, as measured by GDx Access.