[Cataract surgery in patients with retinitis pigmentosa].
BACKGROUND
Because of the retinal alterations visual acuity of patients with retinitis pigmentosa is more affected by loss of contrast than in normal persons. Therefore cataract in retinitis pigmentosa (mostly posterior subcapsular cataract) leads earlier to decreasing visual acuity than is expected from the lens opacity. In a retrospective study we have looked up all patients with retinitis pigmentosa and cataract which were operated between 1989 and 1997 at our department.


METHODS
Between 1989 and 1997 50 eyes of 36 patients (21 female, 15 male; mean age 51 +/- 11.4 years) with the diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa and cataract underwent extracapsular cataract extraction and IOL-implantation. In a retrospective study we studied all case histories of these patients. Mean follow up time was 1.2 +/- 1.2 years.


RESULTS
Preoperative visual acuity was 0.1 +/- 0.1, best postoperative visual acuity was 0.3 +/- 0.2. Visual field was not affected by cataract-surgery. Postoperative complications were not found. 2/3 of all patients were satisfied with the postoperative visual acuity, 1/3 of all patients did not give comments.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with retinitis pigmentosa cataract surgery leads to significant increase of visual acuity. Cataract extraction should not be with held from patients with retinal dystrophy.
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
S
S
Schumacher
M J
MJ
Groh
G O
GO
Naumann
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
Kataraktchirurgie bei Patienten mit Retinopathia pigmentosa.