“Visual outcome and postoperative complications of cataract surgery in patients with ocular surface disorders”

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the visual outcome and postoperative complications of cataract surgery in patients with ocular surface disorders. SETTING: Tertiary eye care centre in North India DESIGN: Retrospective observational study METHODS: Patients with various ocular surface disorders with stabilized ocular surfaces who underwent cataract surgery during this period and had a minimum postoperative follow-up of six weeks were included. The primary outcome measures were post-operative best corrected visual acuity at six weeks, best BCVA and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The study included 20 men and 24 women. A total of 55 eyes were evaluated: Steven-Johnson syndrome (SJS) 35 eyes, Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid (OCP) four eyes, eight eyes with Dry Eye Disease (DED), six eyes with chemical injury and two eyes with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). The mean duration of ocular surface disorder was 33.9 ± 52.17 months. The median preoperative BCVA was 2.0 (IQR, 1.45 to 2.0). The median BCVA ever achieved was 0.50 (IQR, 0.18 to 1.45) at 2 months and the median BCVA at 6 weeks was 0.6 (IQR, 0.3 to 1.5). Maximum improvement in BCVA was noted in patients with DED and SJS and the least in OCP. Phacoemulsification was performed in 47.27% eyes with intraoperative complications noted in 9% eyes. Post-operative surface complications occurred in 12 (21.82%) eyes. Other postoperative complications occurred in 9 (16%) eyes. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery outcome can be visually rewarding in patients with ocular surface disorders provided ocular surface integrity is adequately maintained preoperatively and postoperatively.