Posters

Cataract surgery outcome in retinitis pigmentosa patients

Poster Details

First Author: M.Hawlina SLOVENIA

Co Author(s):    M. Jarc Vidmar   P. Schollmayer   M. Hawlina        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the outcome of cataract surgery in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients

Setting:

Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia

Methods:

Retrospective study included 58 eyes of 41 patients (52 % male) with retinitis pigmentosa who underwent cataract surgery performed by a single surgeon in the period of 10 years at University Eye Hospital Ljubljana, Slovenia. Thirty-four eyes (23 patients) with sufficient data were included in evaluation of postoperative outcome. Snellen visual acuities (VA) before surgery, within 3 months after and approximately 3 years after surgery were analyzed. Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns were categorized as hyperautofluorescent ring (13 eyes, 38 %) and patch or atrophy (15 eyes, 44 %). There were 7 patients with dominant, 12 with recessive (including Usher syndrome) and 6 with sporadic RP.

Results:

Cataract surgery was performed at average age of 53 ± 13 years. Intracapsular ring was used in 9/58 eyes (16 %) due to weak zonulae. During follow up new occurrence of CME was noted in three eyes (8 %). Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) developed in 19 eyes and was treated with YAG laser capsulotomy in 16 (47 %) eyes. Average VA before surgery, within 3 months after and approximately 3 years after surgery was 0,3, 0,4 and 0,4, respectively. Improvement of VA was in average of 0,14 (range: -0,10 - 0,60). It was greater in patients with dominant RP (0,24 ± 0,21) than in patients with recessive (0,05 ± 0,13; p < 0.05) or sporadic RP (0,12 ± 0,29; p > 0.05). Improvement was not associated with pre-operative visual acuity or FAF pattern.

Conclusions:

Snellen visual acuity after cataract operation improved in average of 0,1 (range: -0,10 - 0,60) and remained stable on follow-up. PCO requiring YAG was frequent (47%). New occurrence of CME was low (8%). Weak zonules were relatively common and required CTR implantation in 16%. Better outcome was observed in patients with dominant RP. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE