Abstract
Purpose :
In developing countries, it is worth investigating presenile cataracts, as they are exposed to potentially modifiable risk factors. A retrospective clinical study was performed to analyze epidemiological features and frequency of various risk factors in patients who underwent surgery for presenile cataract. Visual outcomes and postoperative complications were determined.
Methods :
The study was conducted in the Institute of Ophthalmology at the Zambrano Hellion Medical Center / Tecnológico de Monterrey between January 2012 and December 2016. Patients with presenile cataract ages 30-55 years were selected, excluding those who underwent previous ocular surgery. A retrospective study was performed. Several cataract risk factors were analyzed: diabetes, steroid therapy, hypertension, smoking and immune disease. Patient’s quality of life using the VF-7 was assessed. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuities and refractive error were determined. Complications and postoperative results were examined.
Results :
Seventy-three surgeries were performed in 47 patients. These included 29 females (61.7%) and 18 males (38.29%). The mean age of the patients was 47 years (31 - 55). The main comorbidities associated were: diabetes mellitus (25.53%), high blood pressure (21.27%), smoking and alcoholism (12.76% each), among others. The major ocular risk factors were: high myopia (26.02%), diabetic retinopathy (12.3%), uveitis (2.73%), and ocular trauma (2.73%). Mixed cataract (nuclear + posterior subcapsular) was observed in 46.57% eyes. 73% patients had a preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity of 1.00 Log MAR (20/200) or worse. 93% showed best corrected visual acuity more than 0.30 Log MAR (20/40) after the surgery. 65% of the patients gained 2 or more Snellen lines in corrected distance visual acuity. The most common postoperative complication was posterior capsule opacification (12.32%). Patient’s quality of life (assessed with VF-7) improved 70% after surgery.
Conclusions :
The prevalence of presenile cataract has increased in recent years, probably associated with changes in patient’s lifestyle. The increasing prevalence of myopia and diabetes may also contribute to cataract development at an earlier age. Reported visual acuity and postoperative complications were similar to those reported in the literature. In conclusion, cataract surgery in these patients is a safe and effective procedure.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.