<b>EFFECTS OF LUTEIN-ZEAXANTHIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON MACULAR FUNCTIONS AFTER PHACOEMULSIFICATION IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS</b>

Background: Cataracts are opacifications of the lens that develop after the age of 45 years and decrease the vision of the eye. It progresses with the passage of time and result into loss of vision. There are many types of cataracts, classified according to the part of the lens affected. There are different surgical procedures available to treat cataracts, but nowadays, phacoemulsification is a standard procedure for cataract removal. Objective: To determine the effects of Lutein-Zeaxanthin on Macular functions in post phacoemulsification type 2 diabetic patients Methodology: This study was a randomized controlled trial; we observed the type 2 diabetic patients undergone phacoemulsification surgery and divided them into two groups. Group A received daily supplementation of lutein-zeaxanthin along with the standard treatment and Group B received only standard treatment after phacoemulsification and the effects of lutein-zeaxanthin on the macular functions of type 2 diabetic patients were noted. Assessment was done after phaco as pre-treatment, at the 1st week, 4th week and 8th week. Results: By using the Shapiro-Wilk test found that the data is normally distributed with a p-value >0.05. The repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference between the pre op, post op value 1st week, post op value 4th week and post op value 8th week of best corrected visual acuity and Amsler grid value of both groups, with p value <0.05. It was found using a Mixed Model ANOVA that there was a significant difference between both groups, i.e., the conventional treatment group and the lutein-zeaxanthin supplementation group, with a p-value <0.05. Conclusion: This study concluded that Lutein-Zeaxanthin (carotenoids) supplementation plays important role in improving macular functions after cataract surgery in type 2 diabetic patients.