Age-related macular degeneration after extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the course of age-related maculopathy after cataract surgery.


METHODS
Included were 47 patients with bilateral, symmetric, early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), documented by fluorescein angiography, who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation in one eye. The fellow eye served as the control. The patients were retrospectively reviewed or prospectively followed.


RESULTS
Wet AMD developed in nine eyes (19.1%) that were treated with surgery compared with two fellow eyes (4.3%). It was detected within 3 months of surgery in four (44.4%) of the nine affected eyes and within 6 to 12 months of surgery in four other eyes (44.4%). Progression to wet AMD occurred significantly more often in men than in women (P < 0.05). Soft drusen were found as a significant ocular risk factor (P < 0.05). The final visual outcome was poor in all eyes with such progression.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, progression of AMD occurred more often in the surgical eyes compared with the fellow eyes. However, the reasons for the progression of AMD after cataract surgery are still uncertain. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate this observation.
Pollack
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Kaplan Hospital, Rehavot, Israel.
Marcovich
A
A
Bukelman
A
A
Oliver
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity