Early Age-Related Maculopathy (2006) in Eyes After Cataract Surgery

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Patients aged 60 years and older who had undergone cataract surgery at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia during 2001 to 2003 were examined for age-related maculopathy (ARM). Interviews using standardized questionnaires and stereo retinal photography were performed. Retinal photographs were graded using the Wisconsin ARM grading system. The proportions with ARM were compared between surgical and non-surgical eyes, and between this surgical cohort and the Blue Mountains Eye Study population.

Of the 622 eligible patients, 73% were re-examined, after a mean of 2.8 years. Surgical eyes had a higher proportion of early ARM compared to non-surgical eyes and to the early ARM prevalence found in Blue Mountains Eye Study participants of similar age.

This study found an increased prevalence of early ARM in surgical eyes of patients one to three years after cataract surgery. Whether this increase in early ARM prevalence leads to an increased prevalence of late ARM warrants further investigation.

SOURCE: Pham TQ, Cugati S, Rochtchina E, et al. Early age-related maculopathy in eyes after cataract surgery. Eye 2006; Jan 27 [Epub ahead of print].