Midterm visual outcome and progression of diabetic retinopathy following cataract surgery. Midterm outcome of cataract surgery in diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of cataract surgery on progression of diabetic retinopathy and visual acuity.


METHODS
37 patient eyes with mild to moderate diabetic retinopathy at baseline underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular posterior chamber lens implantation. They were examined 3.3 +/- (SD) 0.7 years after surgery.


RESULTS
83.8% of the eyes showed a better final visual acuity, and 67.6% achieved a final visual acuity of 0.5 or better. The retinopathy remained unchanged in 83.8% and progressed in 16.2% of the eyes. No eye progressed to proliferative retinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Phacoemulsification and implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens is a safe procedure for patients with mild to moderate diabetic retinopathy.
Schrey
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Krepler
K
K
Biowski
R
R
Wedrich
A
A
D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity