To observe the change in the measured thickness of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness before and after cataract surgery.

Forty-six eyes of 32 patients, scheduled to have cataract surgery, were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Cirrus HD OCT) before and 5 weeks after the surgery to measure GCIPL and RNFL thickness repeatly.

All GCIPL and RNFL thickness parameters were significantly higher postoperatively compared with preoperative measurements ( p < 0.001). RNFL thickness changed more than GCIPL; the increased amount of mean RNFL thickness (14.16%) was higher than GCIPL thickness (7.36%; p < 0.001). GCIPL and RNFL thicknesses and, GCIPL signal strength changes were significantly increased in all types of cataracts ( p < 0.05). RNFL signal strength change was significantly increased in posterior subcapsular cataracts ( p < 0.05).

Cataracts may affect GCIPL and RNFL thicknesses. After cataract surgery, GCIPL thickness, similar to the RNFL thickness, was increased significantly. As GCIPL thickness may be less affected by cataracts than RNFL thickness, GCIPL thickness may be a more meaningful indicator for the diagnosis of glaucoma with cataract.