Evaluation of Vitreous Modifications After Cataract Surgery (VitCat)

Cataract surgery may induce anatomical and biomechanical changes within the vitreous body and at the vitreoretinal interface. However, the extent and characteristics of these modifications remain incompletely defined, particularly when assessed using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The aim of this study is to investigate structural changes in the vitreous and vitreoretinal interface occurring after cataract surgery through a standardized preoperative and postoperative spectral-domain OCT imaging protocol.

Patients with cataract scheduled for surgery will be considered for inclusion. Eligible participants must have OCT images of sufficient quality for reliable assessment and no evidence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) at baseline. Both preoperative and postoperative OCT imaging must be available for comparative analysis.

Standardized OCT acquisition will include the 18 Line R64 and AS Star 18 Line R16 imaging protocols using the Dream OCT platform. These scans will be used to assess the posterior vitreous, its relationship with the retinal surface, and any postoperative changes in vitreous morphology or vitreoretinal interface configuration.

Preoperative and postoperative images will be compared both qualitatively and quantitatively. The analysis will focus on identifying changes in the visibility, configuration, position, and attachment of the posterior vitreous structures, as well as any modifications of the vitreoretinal interface occurring following cataract surgery.

Patients will be excluded in the presence of factors that may interfere with accurate vitreous assessment or independently alter vitreoretinal anatomy. These include advanced cataract significantly compromising OCT image quality, pre-existing posterior vitreous detachment, previous vitreous hemorrhage, previous vitreoretinal surgery, prior intravitreal injections, retinal diseases affecting evaluation of the vitreoretinal interface, pathologic high myopia, and a history of ocular trauma or uveitis.

The primary objective is to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize postoperative changes in vitreous morphology and vitreoretinal interface features after cataract surgery. The study is intended to improve understanding of the early structural effects of cataract surgery on the vitreous and to determine whether OCT imaging can reliably document these postoperative modifications.