Adult retinopathy of prematurity: retinal complications from cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the results and retinal complications of cataract surgery in adults with a history of premature birth from two separate retina services.


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional, consecutive case series.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was carried out of two cohorts of patients: Beaumont Hospital and Wills Eye Institute. Eyes of patients were selected who had a birth weight of less than 2200 g or a gestational age of fewer than 32 weeks, were 15 years of age or older at baseline visit, and who underwent cataract surgery in one or both eyes with at least one follow-up examination. A total of 66 eyes from 45 patients were selected and subject to analysis.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven eyes (56%) had minimal cicatricial changes resulting from Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). The mean age of cataract surgery was 40.3 years. Twenty-five eyes (38%) had at least a one-line improvement in vision, 20 eyes (30%) had no change in vision, and 21 eyes (32%) had a decline in vision after cataract surgery. A postoperative complication of a retinal tear or retinal detachment developed in 15 (23%) of 66 eyes. The severity of the baseline fundus changes resulting from ROP did not correlate with the likelihood of developing a postcataract surgery complication. Results were similar between the two cohorts.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with a history of premature birth, cataract surgery tends to be performed at a young age, has a mixed range of visual results, and can be associated with a high rate of retinal complications.
Kaiser
Richard S
RS
Retina Service, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KaiserRick@aol.com
Fenton
Gregory L
GL
Tasman
William
W
Trese
Michael T
MT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000209:etiology*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity