Cataract Surgery and the 6-year Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Multiethnic Asian Cohort.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine whether cataract surgery was associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) development in Asian patients.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study.

METHODS

Participants from the Singapore Malay and Indian Eye Studies were recruited between 2004 and 2015. A total of 6790 late-AMD-free eyes from 3475 individuals were followed for 6 years on average. Multivariable regression analysis using generalized estimating equations determined associations between cataract surgery and the incidence of any, early, and late AMD.

RESULTS

The mean age (SD) of participants was 55.5 (9.1) years; 48.1% were male; 11.3% of eyes had cataract surgery recorded; incident any, early, and late AMD developed in 238 (3.6%), 222 (3.4%), and 29 (0.4%) eyes, respectively. Operated eyes had higher incidence of late AMD [1.4% vs 0.3%; adjusted risk ratio (RR): 3.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-8.57], but not early AMD (6.0% vs 3.0%, adjusted RR: 1.12, 95% CI 0.76-1.64) or any AMD (6.9 vs 3.2%, adjusted RR: 1.23, 95% CI 0.85-1.78).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data are consistent with findings in population-based Caucasian studies that cataract surgery may be associated with incidence of late AMD. However, the absolute risk of late AMD development remains low and physicians should continue to balance the benefits and risks of cataract surgery in elderly patients.