AIM: To observe the effect of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery on macula morphology.

METHODS: Retrospective study. From June 2019 to May 2020, 79 eyes of 79 cataract patients were performed cataract surgery in both groups: femtosecond laser-assisted(study group: 38 cases)and conventional phacoemulsification(control group: 41 cases). Fovea and parafoveal macular thickness of cataract patients were measured by Heidelberg OCT preoperatively and 1wk, 1mo postoperatively, and then the difference of measurement results were analyzed.

RESULTS: The retinal thickness of the fovea, the fovea area and the outer retinal ring did not show significant difference in the both groups preoperatively and postoperatively(P>0.05). Retinal thickness in the inner ring in the both groups increased significantly postoperatively, which was statistically significant(P<0.001). In the study group, the macular thickness in the inner ring increased slightly 1wk postoperatively, which was no statistical difference(P=0.057). The inner ring thickness at 1mo increased significantly compared with preoperatively and 1wk postoperatively, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.001); In the control group, the inner macular ring was significantly thicker at 1wk and 1mo(P<0.001), and the thickness at 1mo was higher than 1wk, which was statistical difference(P=0.017). Comparison between the two groups: the thickness of macular in the inner ring in the control group was significantly higher than the study group 1wk and 1mo postoperatively, which was statistically significant(t=6.233; t=7.055, all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Femtosecond laser does not increase the risk of macular damage during operation. Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is less inflammation and lower macular edema in early, which is a safe surgical option.