Purpose: To assess the influence of visually significant cataract on the measurement of nerve fibre layer thickness by scanning laser polarimetry (GDx) in glaucoma patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract extraction.
Method and subjects: All subjects with primary glaucoma participating in a prospective trial of glaucoma surgery who subsequently underwent cataract extraction were eligible. A single trained observer using the GDx nerve fibre layer analyser (LDT) performed pre- and post-operative measurements of nerve fibre layer thickness (NFLT). NFLT parameters, best-corrected LogMAR visual acuity, and automated visual fields were assessed before and after phacoemulsification cataract extraction with implantation of an acrylic intraocular lens.
Results: A total of 49 subjects were assessed: 22 (45%) had POAG and 29 (55%) PACG; all were Asian (36 (73%) were Chinese), with mean age 67.1 (+/-7.6 SD) and mean 'LOCS III' lens opacity grading 11.4 (+/-3.1 SD). Visual acuity significantly improved (mean LogMAR 0.5 vs 0.15, P<0.0001). Corrected pattern standard deviation (6.1 vs 6.4, P=0.2) and mean deviation (-17.7 dB vs -17.0 P=0.91) were little changed after cataract removal. Pseudo-phakic measurements of NFLT were significantly different from pre-op values. Measures of absolute thickness (including the average thickness, ellipse, ellipse average, superior and inferior averages, superior integral) were significantly greater than preoperative values (all P<0.01), whereas ratios and measures of symmetry (symmetry, superior/nasal) were unchanged (all P>0.1) and 'the number' was smaller (P=0.04). Differences in measured NFLT were most strongly correlated with posterior subcapsular cataract (average thickness, P=0.01).
Conclusions: Removal of cataract resulted in greater absolute measurements of NFLT but ratio values were unchanged. Scanning laser polarimetry measurements can change significantly after cataract extraction. New baseline measurements may be required.