title: Visual outcomes and associated risk factors of cataract surgeries in highly myopic Taiwanese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to describe the visual outcome of highly myopic eyes undergoing cataract surgery, to investigate associated risk factors for poor postoperative vision, and to assess postoperative complication frequency among the prevalent myopic Taiwanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective, noncomparative case series study at the Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongxing Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan. High myopia was defined as axial length of 26.0 mm. Main study outcomes were visual acuity for the initial 6-month postoperative period (including visual acuities and improvement of postoperative vision), and postoperative complications (including subsequent cataract formation and postoperative retinal detachment).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two highly myopic eyes were registered between January 2002 and December 2004. Mean follow-up interval was 43.3 +/- 20.2 weeks (range 25-103). Thirty-two eyes (61.5%) had good postoperative visual improvement (> or =4 line Snellen chart). Thirty-seven eyes (71.2%) achieved good postoperative vision (20/40 or better). Fifteen eyes (28.8%) demonstrated poor postoperative vision. Pre-existing maculopathy was an independent risk factor for failure to achieve good postoperative vision (odds ratio, OR, 6.84, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.12-41.8) and improvement (OR 16.1, 95% CI: 2.2-119.9). Diabetic history was considered another independent risk factor for poor postoperative vision (OR 15.6, 95% CI: 0.97-267.6). Six eyes (11.5%) developed subsequent posterior capsular opacification requiring Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Two eyes (3.8%) developed retinal detachment during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of highly myopic eyes achieved good visual improvement and good postoperative visual acuity after cataract surgery. Pre-existing maculopathy was an independent risk factor of postoperative visual improvement and status. It is crucial to examine retinal status prior to cataract surgery to prevent poor vision improvement, poor postoperative vision, or retinal complications.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Research Center, Institute of Public Health, and Department of Social Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ching-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ting-Jia
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Li-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Lin-Chung
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Woung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity