Pupil size before and after phacoemulsification in nondiabetic and diabetic patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in pupil size before and after phacoemulsification surgery in nondiabetic and diabetic patients and determine whether there is an association between preoperative pupil size and postoperative pupil size.
SETTING: Hayashi Eye Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
METHODS: In this study, 315 nondiabetic patients and 71 diabetic patients scheduled for phacoemulsification were recruited consecutively. The pupil area and pupil diameter were measured preoperatively and approximately 3 days and 1 month postoperatively using an infrared pupillometer and Colvard pupillometer, respectively. The simple association between preoperative and postoperative pupil size and between pupil size and age were evaluated.
RESULTS: The mean pupil area in the nondiabetic group and diabetic group decreased significantly 3 days postoperatively and returned to approximately preoperative levels at 1 month. Strong associations were found between preoperative pupil area and diameter and the area and diameter at 3 days and 1 month in both groups. Younger age was weakly associated with larger pupils in the nondiabetic group. The pupil size in the diabetic group was smaller than in the nondiabetic group, although the difference was not significant preoperatively. The pupil size became smaller with increasing severity of diabetic retinopathy.
CONCLUSIONS: Pupil size decreased immediately after phacoemulsification but returned to approximately preoperative levels by 1 month postoperatively in nondiabetic and diabetic patients. There was a strong association between preoperative and postoperative pupil size. The pupil size in diabetic patients was significantly smaller than in nondiabetic patients postoperatively.