Abstract:AIM: To analyze the effect of preoperative macular ganglion cell complex(GCC)thickness on visual quality after cataract combined with glaucoma surgery.
METHODS:This retrospective study collected clinical data of patients with cataract and glaucoma who underwent phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, and goniosynechialysis surgery in the hospital from January 2023 to December 2024. Preoperative macular GCC thickness was assessed and patients were divided into three groups according to preoperative macular GCC thickness using the tertile method: low thickness group(<43.8 μm), medium thickness group(43.8-60.4 μm), and high thickness group(>60.4 μm). Postoperative visual quality was evaluated by visual acuity(LogMAR), contrast sensitivity, visual field and subjective visual quality(QoV)at 1, 3 and 6 mo post-operation. Linear regression analysis was used to verify the effect of preoperative macular GCC thickness on visual acuity at 6 mo after surgery.
RESULTS: Totally 115 patients(115 eyes)with cataract combined with glaucoma were enrolled, including 31 patients(31 eyes)in the low thickness group(17 males, 14 females, 65.23±8.11 y), 47 patients(47 eyes)in the medium thickness group(20 males, 27 females, 64.87±7.89 y)and 37 patients(37 eyes)in the high thickness group(23 males, 14 females, 63.92±7.44 y). There were significant differences in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, mean deviation of visual field, and QoV scores among the three groups at different time points pre- and post-operation(all P<0.05). At 1, 3 and 6 mo postoperatively, the visual acuity(LogMAR)and QoV scores in the low thickness group were higher than those in the medium thickness and high thickness groups, and the medium thickness group showed higher values than the high thickness group(all P<0.05). The low thickness group had lower low-frequency, medium-frequency and high-frequency contrast sensitivity values as well as lower mean deviation of visual field compared with the medium and high thickness groups, and the medium thickness group had lower values than the high thickness group(all P<0.05). Visual acuity and QoV scores at 1, 3 and 6 mo post-operation were significantly decreased, while low-, medium- and high-frequency contrast sensitivity values and mean deviation of visual field were significantly elevated in the three groups compared with pre-operation.(all P<0.05). In all three groups, visual acuity(LogMAR)and QoV scores were higher at 1 mo postoperatively than those at 3 and 6 mo, and the values at 3 mo were higher than those at 6 mo(all P<0.05). Low-, medium- and high-frequency contrast sensitivity and mean deviation of visual field in three groups were lower at 1 mo postoperatively than those at 3 and 6 mo, with lower values at 3 mo than at 6 mo(all P<0.05). Through linear regression analysis, the model fit was good(F=32.435, PSymbol|@@0.001), and the thickness of GCC in the macular area pre-opertation had a negative impact on visual acuity(LogMAR)at 6 mo post-operation(β=-0.003, PSymbol|@@0.001). The regression equation was: Y=0.421-0.003×X preoperative macular GCC thickness. The model determination coefficient R2=0.223. It indicated that the preoperative macular GCC thickness could explain 22.3% of the variance in visual acuity at 6 mo postoperatively. For every 1 μm decrease in preoperative GCC thickness, the average visual acuity(LogMAR)increased by 0.003 at 6 mo postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: Preoperative macular GCC thickness is a protective factor for visual quality after cataract combined with glaucoma surgery. The thicker the preoperative GCC thickness, the better the visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and visual field recovery at 1, 3, and 6 mo post-operation. Moreover, for every 1 μm decrease in preoperative GCC thickness, the average visual acuity(LogMAR)at 6 mo after surgery increases by 0.003, which can be used as one of the preoperative predictive indicators for postoperative visual quality.
