Ultra-Widefield Fluorescein Angiography Findings in Patients with Macular Edema Following Cataract Surgery

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) findings in patients with macular edema (ME) following cataract surgery.

Methods: Thirty-three eyes from patients who showed greater than a 30% increase in the central subfield thickness following cataract surgery were included. UWFA scored according to a system suggested by the Angiography Scoring for Uveitis Working Group (ASUWG). Factors associated with a high ASUWG score were evaluated.

Results: Thirty-three (100.0%) of the 33 eyes showed abnormal UWFA findings, including optic disc staining (81.8%), capillary leakage (100.0%), pinpoint leakage (84.8%), peripheral retinal vascular leakage (24.2%) and retinal staining (6.1%). Multiple regression analysis reveals that following adjustment for other factors, younger age was independently associated with a higher ASUWG score (R² = 0.476, p = .001).

Conclusions: Patients with ME following cataract surgery show generalized inner and outer blood−retinal barrier breakage. Particular attention is required during cataract surgery in young patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Blood−retinal barrier
• cataract surgery
• macular edema
• refractive lens exchange
• ultra-widefield fluorescent angiography

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) [2017R1C1B5016701]; Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea [2017R1C1B5016701].