[Does cataract surgery increase the risk of exudative age-related macular degeneration? Results from a large retrospective case-control study].
BACKGROUND
Many epidemiological studies indicate a positive correlation between cataract surgery and the subsequent progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Such a correlation would have far-reaching consequences. However, in epidemiological studies it is difficult to determine the significance of a single risk factor, such as cataract surgery.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective case-control study of patients with new onset exudative age-related macular degeneration to determine if cataract surgery was a predisposing factor. A total of 1496 eyes were included in the study: 984 cases with new onset of exudative AMD and 512 control eyes with early signs of age-related maculopathy. Lens status (phakic or pseudophakic) was determined for each eye.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in lens status between study and control group (227/984 [23.1 %] vs. 112/512 [21.8 %] pseudophakic, p = 0.6487; OR = 1.071; 95 % CI = 0.8284-1.384). In cases with bilateral pseudophakia (n = 64) no statistically significant difference of the interval between cataract surgery in either eye and the onset of exudative AMD in the study eye was found (225.9 +/- 170.4 vs. 209.9 +/- 158.2 weeks, p = 0.27).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence that cataract surgery is not a major risk factor for the development of exudative AMD.
Menghini
M
M
Augenklinik Universitätsspital Zürich, Schweiz.
Sutter
F K
FK
Barthelmes
D
D
Fleischhauer
J C
JC
Kurz-Levin
M M
MM
Boesch
M M
MM
Helbig
H
H
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland