title: A long-term follow-up of cataract extraction with and without intraocular lens implantation.
abstract: In 176 consecutive intracapsular cataract extracted eyes with an iris clip lens (IOL) and 159 eyes with consecutively performed intracapsular extractions (ICCE), the visual outcome and complications were examined in a follow-up study. The average observation time was 48 months in the IOL group and 53 months in the ICCE group. In both groups the main cause of a visual acuity less than 0.5 was pre-operatively recognized maculopathy. Eighty-six per cent of the remaining IOL eyes and 93% of the remaining ICCE eyes achieved a visual acuity greater than or equal to 0.5. Post-operative complications were the cause of a visual acuity less than 0.5 in 11.9% of the IOL and 6.9% of the ICCE group. The most frequent complications were corneal oedema and retinal detachment. Pre-operative and early post-operative complications were important factors in the development of late complications in the IOL group. With proper pre-operative evaluation and good surgical technique intraocular lens implantation is a safe procedure.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body