Study finds changes to cornea

Central corneal thickness increases immediately after phacoemulsification and gradually returns to normal over one week post surgery, according to a new study.

Authors of a report in the August issue of Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery said the increased corneal thickness may affect intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements thus, not all eyes with a rise in IOP may need to be treated.

Sachin M Salvi and colleagues evaluated changes in central corneal thickness (CCT) in 13 eyes of 13 patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant. They measured the CCT one hour preoperatively and at one hour, one day and one week after surgery. The non-operated eyes served as the control group.