AIM: To study whether there was a correlation between central foveal thickness(CFT)assessed with optical coherence tomography(OCT)and visual acuity of patient with high myopia after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.

METHODS: Totally 67 patients with high myopia underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were enrolled in the study. Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)was recorded and CFT was measured using OCT at 1wk, 1 and 3mo after oerations. BCVA and CFT were compared before and after the operation. All patents were divided into two groups by the BCVA at 3mo after operation, BCVA>0.5 in Group A and BCVA≤0.5 in Group B. ANOVA, Spearman correlation analysis and independent t test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative BCVA and postoperative BCVA(F=115.04, P<0.01). Preoperative CFT was different compared with that 1wk and 1mo after operation(P=0.04, 0.02)and was not different with that 3mo after operation(P=0.52). There was a statistically significant difference in CFT of postoperative 3-month compared with that of postoperative 1-week(P<0.01)or that of postoperative 1-month(P<0.01). BCVA showed significant positive correlation with CFT without foveal lesion on postoperative 3mo(r=0.28, P=0.03). CFT of Group A and Group B was significantly different at 3mo after the operation(t=-2.24, P=0.03). There was no significant difference in age and intraocular lens of two groups.

CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography allow for objective assessment of retinal construction changes in eyes with high myopia are correlated to visual acuity.