Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the benefit of cataract surgery in patients with age–related macular degeneration (AMD) in term of visual acuity.
Methods: :
Eighty eyes of 58 patients were included in this retrospective study and divided up into two groups. Eyes of group 1 ( n = 45) had early stage of age–related maculopathy with drusen and retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities. Eyes of group 2 ( n = 35) had severe stages of age–related maculopathy with geographic atrophy and neovascularization. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured before and one month after cataract surgery.Color fundus photography was taken before and after cataract surgery for grading maculopathy.
Results: :
In group 1, mean preoperative and postoperative BCVA were, respectively, 20/63 and 20/25. There was a statistical difference in BCVA in this group ( p < 0.05 ).In group 2, mean preoperative and postoperative BCVA were, respectively, 20/300 and 20/200. There was a statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative BVCA in this group ( p < 0.05 ). Neovascularization appeared in two eyes of group 1 (6.7 %) one year after cataract surgery.
Conclusions: :
Few studies characterize early stages from severe stages of AMD. Our study shows a clear improvement in visual acuity after cataract surgery in both early and severe age–related maculopathy. Indeed, even in the presence of advanced atrophic or neovascular AMD, the patients may benefit from cataract surgery in spite of an already existing central visual loss.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • anterior segment • cataract