[Morphological macular changes after cataract surgery: risk factors].

OBJECTIVE To analyze morphological macular changes after uncomplicated cataract surgery and their correlation with age and arterial hypertension. METHODS Total macular volume (TMV), foveal volume (FOVOL) and foveal thickness (FOV) in patients who had undergone cataract surgery were measured using OCT3 Stratus before surgery, the day after the intervention and one month later. The data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software. RESULTS The study group was composed of 114 eyes from 114 patients. The mean TMV, FOVOL and FOV in the subgroup of patients with signal strength over 6 before cataract surgery were 6.59 (SD0.67) microm(3); 0.16 (SD0.02) microm(3) and 204.97 (SD29.79) microm. One month after surgery the measurements were TMV: 6.93 (SD0.56) microm(3); FOVOL: 0.17 (SD0.06) microm(3) and FOV: 218.07 (SD87.60) microm. We found statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in TMV, but not in FOVOL or FOV. The group of patients under 74 years showed a greater increase in TMV. Patients with arterial hypertension did not show an increase in TMV or FOV compared to patients without arterial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS We found a sub-morphological macular oedema one month after uncomplicated cataract surgery, with age being a risk factor for developing a greater increase in TMV. Arterial hypertension does not seem to be a risk factor for these changes.