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Cataract surgery in patients with diabetic retinopathy: Visual outcome, progression of diabetic retinopathy, and incidence of diabetic macular oedema

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Background. Compared to non-diabetic patients, outcome after cataract surgery was reported to be worse in diabetic patients – especially in those with diabetic retinopathy. This prospective study was planned to evaluate visual outcome, progression of diabetic retinopathy, and incidence of clinically significant macular oedema (CSME) in a homogenous group of patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) without CSME at baseline 1 year after cataract surgery.

Methods. Over a period of 18 months, all consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate diabetic retinopathy who had cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation were prospectively followed up. Outcomes were assessed 1 year postoperatively and included visual acuity (VA), progression of retinopathy, and incidence of CSME. Progression of retinopathy and incidence of CSME were compared to the non-operated fellow eyes.

Results. Of 50 patients included, 42 completed the 1-year follow-up. VA improved in 85% of patients, and was better than 0,5 in 71%. Progression of retinopathy occurred in 12% of eyes after cataract surgery and in 10.8% of non-operated fellow eyes. No patient developed proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the operated eye. CSME occurred in 13 operated eyes (31%), five of them with retinal ischemia, and in five non-operated eyes (13.5%). Patients with ischemic macular oedema had the worst prognosis regarding VA.

Conclusion. Modern cataract surgery seems to have no influence on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. A visual improvement is achieved in the majority of patients with NPDR, but poorer visual outcome is observed in patients developing macular oedema.

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Krepler, K., Biowski, R., Schrey, S. et al. Cataract surgery in patients with diabetic retinopathy: Visual outcome, progression of diabetic retinopathy, and incidence of diabetic macular oedema. Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 240, 735–738 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-002-0530-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-002-0530-7

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