First Author: B.Vars HUNGARY
Co Author(s): Z. P Farkas Z. Bir
Purpose:
The 'light damage' caused by UV radiation plays a role in the pathomechanism of most retinal dystrophy and degeneration, but the high-energy (short wavelength) blue light may also have harmful effect on the retina. The crystalline lens acts as a natural filter against UV and high-energy blue radiation.
Our aim was to investigate the effect of cataract surgery with 'normal' vs. 'blue-filter' IOL implantation on the clinical course of retinitis pigmentosa.
Setting:
: The retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pécs and Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University.
Methods:
The clinical data of 30 patients with autosomal recessive / sporadic retinitis pigmentosa was analyzed in the study. During uneventful cataract surgery, 'blue filter' IOL was implanted in 7 patients, while 10 patient got 'normal' IOL. As a control group, the data of 13 RP patients were used. We evaluated the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before the surgery, one month (3-5 weeks) and one year (11-14 months) postoperatively. In the control group, the change in the BCVA within a year was analyzed. The statistical analysis was carried out with ANOVA, using SPSS software.
Results:
In patients who underwent cataract surgery, the average change of BCVA was 0.09 and -0.08 logMAR one month and one year after the surgery, respectively, while in the control group, the mean annual change in the BCVA was 0.02 logMAR. There was no significant difference between the two surgery groups: in the 'blue filter IOL' group the change was 0.08 and -0.08 logMAR, while in the 'normal IOL' group it was 0.09 and -0.09 logMAR. All patients underwent cataract surgery claimed subjectively 'improved vision' one year after the operation.
Conclusions:
In our study, we have found no statistically significant difference in the change of BCVA after the implantation of either 'blue filter' or 'normal' IOL, compared to the natural course of the disease. The visual acuity slightly improved in both IOL groups. The temporary decrease in the BCVA one month after the surgery is most probably due to postoperative macular edema. Among our patients, none of the previously reported adverse effects of the 'blue filter' IOLs (further scotopic function loss, color discrimination problems) were noticed.
Financial Disclosure:
None
