Cataract surgical outcomes in diabetic patients: case control study.

PURPOSE

To determine the visual outcome of cataract surgery in diabetes mellitus with advanced cataract in a tertiary institution in Nigeria.

DESIGN

A retrospective case control study conducted at the University College Hospital, Ibadan Nigeria.

SUBJECTS

Twenty three consecutive patients with diabetes and 23 age and sex matched non-diabetic control patients who had extracapsular cataract extraction for advanced cataract between 2002-2005.

MAIN OUTCOME

Mean post operative visual acuity and surgical complications.

RESULTS

Twenty three patients with diabetes mellitus and 23 non diabetic controls were studied; mean duration of diabetes was 8.1 +/- 7.2 years. The mean post operative visual acuity in diabetics was 0.11+/-0.38, 0.33+/-0.57 and 0.38+/-0.49 at one week, two months and six months compared with 0.23+/-0.19, 0.46+/-0.37 and 0.48+/-0.31 in non diabetics. (p=0.207, 0.403 and 0.465 respectively). Improvement in preoperative visual acuity was noted in 84.2% and 90% in diabetics and non-diabetics respectively. Poor visual outcome in diabetics was mainly due to diabetic retinopathy, maculopathy or diabetes related surgical complications.

CONCLUSION

Visual improvement was seen following surgery for advanced cataract in diabetics in this study population. Post operative monitoring for treatment of diabetic retinopathy may enhance visual outcome.