[Visual acuity after cataract surgery in patients with age-related macular degeneration].

BACKGROUND

To analyze changes in visual acuity after cataract surgery in patients suffering from age-related maculopathy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective case-control study included all patients who had consecutively undergone phacoemulsification from January 2000 to February 2006, had a preexisting diagnosis of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and were followed up for at least 1 year postoperatively (n=1,152 eyes of 696 patients). The control group comprised phakic patients diagnosed with early AMD from January 2000 to February 2006 who did not undergo eye surgery and were followed up for at least 1 year (n=334 eyes of 202 patients).

RESULTS

In 62.1% of operated eyes, the best-corrected visual acuity was at least two logMAR units better than before surgery, and in 26.7% it was at least four logMAR units better. Deterioration of visual acuity of more than four logMAR units occurred in 1.3% of operated eyes and 1.5% of control eyes.

CONCLUSION

Cataract surgery can markedly improve visual acuity in patients with age-related maculopathy.