Effect of cataract surgery on the progression of diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of cataract surgery and other factors on the progression of diabetic retinopathy using the nonoperated contralateral eye as a control.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University Medical College, Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.


METHODS
Monocular cataract surgery was performed in 75 patients who had the same degree of retinopathy or no retinopathy in both eyes preoperatively. Patients were assigned to 1 of 2 groups as follows: Group A, progression of retinopathy in the operated eye caused by cataract surgery; Group B, no progression of retinopathy bilaterally, comparable level of progression in both eyes, or more progression of retinopathy in the nonoperated eye than in the operated eye. The differences between the 2 groups in age, duration of and treatment methods for diabetes, renal function, and presence of preoperative macular edema were compared. The 1-year follow-up included evaluation of the progression of retinopathy.


RESULTS
Surgery caused the retinopathy to progress in 23 patients (30.6%, Group A); 52 patients (69.4%, Group B) had no progression of retinopathy or a comparable level of retinopathy postoperatively. The operated eye had more progression of retinopathy than the nonoperated contralateral eye (P <.05). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in age, diabetes duration, surgical method, or hypertension. Preoperative macular edema and poor renal function significantly affected the progression of diabetic retinopathy after cataract surgery (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetic retinopathy progressed after cataract surgery. The presence of preoperative macular edema and poor renal function increased the progression of retinopathy postoperatively.
Chung
Jin
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Uijongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, South Korea.
Kim
Mu-Yan
MY
Kim
Hyeun-Seung
HS
Yoo
Jin-Seong
JS
Lee
Young-Chun
YC
D019923:Capsulorhexis; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011446:Prospective Studies