Abstract: Objective To analyze the effect of intraocular pressure fluctuations on vascular density in patients who undergo cataract surgery. Methods One hundred patients(100 eyes)who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation at our hospital between January 2016 and January 2019 were enrolled. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to their intraocular pressure levels as follows: 38 patients were in the <21 mmHg group, 15 patients the 21-30 mmHg group, 19 patients in the 31-40 mmHg group, and 28 patients were in the >40 mmHg group. The patients underwent an intraocular pressure and macular spot test before and after surgery, as well as 60 minutes, 8 hours, and 24 hours after the operation. Optic disc vascular density and perfusion density were also determined. Results Immediately after the surgery and 1-hour following, the macular and optic disc perfusion density were lower than before the operation. In the >40 mmHg group, the intraocular pressure was lower than the preoperative blood density 8 hours after surgery. The macular density and optic disc perfusion density were lower than before the operation after 24 hours in the >40 mmHg group. The macular perfusion density of patients in the 31-40 mmHg and >40 mmHg groups was lower than before the operation. Conclusion Intraoperative perfusion pressure in cataract surgery can cause optic disc macular perfusion density and vascular density to decrease. Vascular density can be restored to a normal level 60 minutes after the operation. The fundus blood flow density will be affected by intraocular pressure fluctuations.

Key words: Cataract, Fundus blood flow density, Optical coherence tomography angiography, Intraocular pressure