Long Term Functional Results in Retinitis Pigmentosa After Cataract Surgery

Abstract

Purpose: : To compare Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) and Visual Field (VF) of operated or non operated primary RP patients with subcapsular cataract.

Methods: : In a retrospective study (180 patients) 114 primary RP eyes with subcapsular posterior cataract (Group 1) and 79 pseudophakic primary RP eyes (Group 2) were evaluated for BCVA (ETDRS charts) and VF (Goldmann, V/4 target) at baseline and after 5 years. 77 eyes of Group 1 and 49 of Group 2 completed a 10 year follow up. Patient with ocular abnormalities other than primary RP or complicated cataract surgery were excluded. BCVA changes were based on visual acuity slope at regression analysis for each series of visual acuity measurement. The difference in the slopes of each Group was evaluated by means of regression analysis and t-test. Visual field progression was evaluated by an experienced evaluator and graded as improved, unchanged or worsened on the basis of the extension of V/4 target isopter.

Results: : Mean BCVA for Group 1 and Group 2 were, respectively, 20/32 and 20/50. Baseline mean BCVA did not significantly change at year 10 (Group 1 y = 0,918x - 0,065; R² = 0,714; Group 2 y = 0,661x + 0,214; R² = 0,488). No significant changes were also found when comparing BCVA values baseline- year 5 (P= 0,3287) and baseline- year 10 (P= 0,365031) between the two Groups.Visual fields results are shown in the table:

Conclusions: : Cataract surgery does not significantly improve long term functional performance of RP patients, in particular BCVA. Worsening of VF appears slightly less in operated patients.

Keywords: cataract • visual fields • visual acuity