Early macular changes after phacoemulsification in eyes with high myopia

To evaluate macular changes after cataract surgery in eyes with high myopia.
This prospective cohort enrolled patients with high myopia (axial length ≥26 mm) who underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were obtained at baseline and 2 and 6 months after the operation. Postoperative macular changes on OCT scans were regarded as the main outcome measure.
Thirty-four eyes of 31 patients with high myopia were included (age, 60 ± 10 years [mean ± SD]); of these, 14 patients (45.2%) were male. The mean axial length was 27.8 ± 1.5 mm. Epiretinal membrane (one eye, 2.9%), lamellar hole (one eye, 2.9%), myopic foveoschisis (2 eyes, 5.9%), and vitreomacular traction associated with foveoschisis (one eye, 2.9%) were notable findings at baseline examination; no eye showed cystoid macular edema (CME) at this time. At the 2-month examination, three eyes (8.8%) developed CME. At the 6-month follow-up, one eye with CME at 2 months improved, and a new case of CME (5.6%) was detected. The characteristics of epiretinal membrane, lamellar hole, vitreomacular traction, and foveoschisis did not change at the 2- and 6-month examinations and no new cases occurred.
Uncomplicated phacoemulsification had no significant effect on the prevalence or characteristics of pre-existing macular abnormalities in eyes with high myopia up to 6 months of follow-up. The incidence of CME 2 months after uncomplicated cataract surgery in eyes with high myopia was about 9%.