AIM: To investigate the change of macular thickness after uncomplicated cataract phacoemulsification surgery with intracameral cefuroxime.

METHODS: Prospective, controlled and parallel compared clinical study. Enrolled patients were divided into 4 groups based on age under or over 60 years old(<60 group and ≥60 group)and with intracameral cefuroxime(experiment group)before ending operation or with irrigating solution(control group). Macular thicknesses were measured at baseline and 1 month and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: At 1 month, ≥60 experiment group has thicker fovea, inferior inner area and temporal inner area than other 3 groups. At 6 months, only inferior inner area was thicker in ≥60 experiment groups than other 3 groups. With response to preoperative value, at 1 month, 4 sectors of macular thickness were thicker in ≥60 experiment group than other 3 groups, which were forvea, inferior inner area, temporal inner area and inferior outer area. At 6 months, only 2 areas were thicker in ≥60 experiment group than other 3 groups, which were fovea and inferior inner area.

CONCLUSION: Macula becomes thicker after cataract surgery which cannot restore preoperative level at 6 months. Patients elder than 60 will have thicker macula after cataract surgery with intracameral cefuroxime at 1 month postoperatively.