Factors Affecting Post-Cataract OCT Parameters in Open-Angle and Angle-Closure Glaucoma Eyes: Optic Disc Head Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in the effects of cataract surgery based on the type of glaucoma and changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) thickness around the optic nerve and macula in patients with glaucoma. Furthermore, the factors influencing these effects were explored.Methods: 68 patients with glaucoma were enrolled, and changes in RNFL thickness and BMO-MRW before and after cataract surgery were measured using SD-OCT. The patients were divided into angle-closure and open-angle glaucoma groups and values before and after cataract surgery were analyzed.Results: The male-female ratio was 26:42, with an average age of 71.72 years at the time of surgery. There were 35 eyes with open-angle glaucoma and 33 eyes with angle-closure glaucoma. After cataract surgery, both RNFL and BMO-MRW values significantly increased. In the angle-closure glaucoma group, preoperative visual acuity was significantly better and RNFL image Q was significantly higher before cataract surgery. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, the factor influencing the increase in RNFL thickness was found to be the preoperative RNFL thickness in both the overall open angle glaucoma group and the angle closure glaucoma group. In other words, patients with thinner RNFL thickness before cataract surgery showed an increase in RNFL thickness after the surgery. In the angle closure glaucoma group, it was observed that worse preoperative visual acuity was associated with an increase in RNFL thickness after surgery. Conversely, no factors affecting BMO-MRW thickness were identified.Conclusions: The factors influencing the increase in RNFL thickness after cataract surgery were the preoperative RNFL thickness in open angle glaucoma group and the preoperative visual acuity in the angle closure glaucoma group.