Phacoemulsification and lens implantation in patients treated with aspirin or warfarin.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence and nature of hemorrhagic complications in patients having phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation while taking aspirin or warfarin.


METHODS
The Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.


METHODS
This retrospective study reviewed the charts from the practice of 1 ophthalmic surgeon. The type of medication, dosage, indication for anticoagulant therapy, type of incision, type of anesthesia, and intraoperative and postoperative hemorrhagic complications were recorded.


RESULTS
Sixty-two patients (82 eyes) taking aspirin and 25 patients (31 eyes) taking warfarin were identified. Seven eyes in the aspirin group (8.5%) and 3 in the warfarin group (9.7%) experienced subconjunctival hemorrhages. Eight of the 10 subconjunctival hemorrhages occurred in eyes with scleral incisions. The remaining 2 occurred in eyes with corneal incisions. No eye developed lid ecchymosis, retrobulbar hemorrhage, hyphema, or suprachoroidal hemorrhage.


CONCLUSIONS
Phacoemulsification with foldable IOL implantation was performed safely in patients taking aspirin or warfarin. Subconjunctival hemorrhage was the most common hemorrhagic complication.
Carter
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, UCLA School of Medicine 90095-7002, USA.
Miller
K M
KM
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005130:Eye Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin