Are Elderly Patients Optimally Corrected with Spectacles in the Longer Term after Cataract Surgery?

SIGNIFICANCE: Our study suggests that patients would benefit from adjusting their distance spectacles several years after cataract surgery. This may lead to a better quality of life for these patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients' distance vision is optimally corrected with spectacles 6 to 7 years after cataract surgery and whether patients with glaucoma who regularly visit an ophthalmologist have more correct power in their spectacles. METHODS: A total of 153 patients (153 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsification at Oslo University Hospital were examined 6 to 7 years after surgery. Patients with better or equal best-corrected distance visual acuity in the study eye compared with the other eye were included (n = 90; 59%). Vision-related outcomes were measured and analyzed, including a modified version of the visual function questionnaire, Visual Function-14 (VF-14). RESULTS: A significant difference was found in the logMAR score between the patients' habitual correction (if any) and those with best-corrected distance visual acuity measured at the postoperative study examination (0.20 ± 0.40 and 0.10 ± 0.39, respectively; P < .0001). Patients with glaucoma (n = 17) did not have more correct power of their spectacles than did patients without glaucoma (n = 73; P = .38). The overall mean VF-14 score was 89%, with a statistically significant correlation between a high VF-14 score and a good habitual distance correction (r = -0.82; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that, although the patients are quite satisfied with their visual function 6 to 7 years after cataract surgery, many patients are not making the most of their visual potential. Thus, there seems to be a need for better monitoring of patients' distance refraction and spectacle use for an extended period after cataract surgery.

Corneal endothelial cell loss following cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome: a 2-year prospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: To compare the corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) before and after cataract surgery in patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). METHODS: In this prospective study, we compared the ECD in 62 PEX patients with 62 patients without PEX (controls). The mean age was 78.3 ± 6.2 years and 77.2 ± 5.9 years, respectively. Patients were examined before and at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after cataract surgery. The corneal endothelium was examined with confocal microscopy, and the ECD was counted both automatically and semi-manually. Nine patients in the PEX group (15%) and 11 patients in the control group (18%) were lost to follow-up in the 2-year period. Within the PEX and the control groups, we also compared the ECD between patients with and without glaucoma. RESULTS: Before surgery, the ECD (semi-manual counting) was 2258 ± 342 cells/mm2 in the PEX group and 2322 ± 321 cells/mm2 in the control group (p = 0.29). There were no significant differences in postoperative ECD between these groups at any visit. After 2 years, the ECD had changed by -679 ± 337 cells/mm2 and -704 ± 484 cells/mm2 , respectively (p = 0.78). The preoperative ECD was lower in eyes with glaucoma compared to eyes without glaucoma, both within the PEX group (p = 0.05) and the control group (p = 0.03). After surgery, there were no differences between eyes with or without glaucoma. CONCLUSION: The ECD was not significantly different in PEX eyes compared with control eyes, neither before nor after cataract surgery. However, there seemed to be a lower ECD in eyes with glaucoma before surgery.

Longitudinal corneal endothelial cell loss after corrective surgery for late in-the-bag IOL dislocation: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To compare safety regarding longitudinal corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL) after IOL exchange vs IOL repositioning for late in-the-bag IOL dislocation. SETTING: Oslo University Hospital, Norway. DESIGN: Prospective, parallel group, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: During a 3-year period, 104 patients were randomly assigned to groups receiving either IOL exchange with retropupillary fixation of an iris-claw IOL (n = 50) or IOL repositioning by scleral suturing (n = 54). All operations were performed by 1 surgeon with an anterior approach. Endothelial cell density (ECD) and central corneal thickness were measured preoperatively and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. A linear mixed model was applied for the longitudinal analysis, where patients with at least 1 ECD measurement were included (n = 44 exchange; n = 50 repositioning). The main outcome measure was 2-year longitudinal ECL in IOL exchange compared with IOL repositioning. RESULTS: The longitudinal ECL was similar between the IOL exchange (n = 44) and IOL repositioning (n = 50) groups during the 2 years of follow-up (17.5% vs 15.3%, P = .15). A subgroup analysis found no reason to advise against either method for patients with low preoperative ECD (<1500 cells/mm). The mean central corneal thickness was similar between the 2 groups and remained stable over 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized clinical trial of late in-the-bag IOL dislocation surgery found that exchanging the IOL was as safe as repositioning in terms of 2-year longitudinal ECL.

Astigmatism and Refractive Outcome After Late In-The-Bag Intraocular Lens Dislocation Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To compare surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) and refractive outcomes between two operation methods for late in-the-bag IOL dislocation. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial, 104 patients (eyes) were assigned to IOL repositioning by scleral suturing 1.5- to 2-mm posterior to limbus (n = 54) or IOL exchange with a retropupillar iris-claw IOL using a 5.5-mm scleral pocket incision (n = 50). The SIA was determined by vector analysis through conversion of corneal cylinders to Cartesian coordinates, and is presented as magnitude in diopters @ direction in degrees (D @ °). Follow-up was 6 months. Results: The SIA was 0.24 D @ 8° for IOL repositioning and 0.65 D @ 171° for IOL exchange, which was a nonsignificant group difference (X coordinate: P = 0.08; Y coordinate: P = 0.16). Mean SIA magnitude was 0.60 ± 0.50 D and 1.12 ± 0.85 D, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean postoperative spherical equivalent was -1.6 ± 1.6 D after IOL repositioning and -0.5 ± 1.0 D after IOL exchange (P < 0.001). For IOL repositioning, this represented a mean myopic shift of -0.7 ± 1.1 D compared with before the IOL dislocation (P < 0.001). For IOL exchange, it was within ±1 D of target refraction in 83% of the patients. Conclusions: Surgically induced astigmatism was modest in both operation groups, albeit with a tendency of being more pronounced for IOL exchange. Repositioning surgery led to a myopic shift, whereas exchange surgery provided good refractive predictability.

Glaucoma and Intraocular Pressure in Patients Operated for Late In-the-bag Intraocular Lens Dislocation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP-lowering treatment requirements in patients with late in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation operated with 2 different methods, and to assess whether an IOP decrease after surgery can be expected. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial. METHODS: In our university clinic, 104 patients (eyes) were randomly assigned to IOL repositioning by scleral suturing (n = 54) or IOL exchange with a retropupillar iris-claw lens (n = 50). The main outcome measure was 6-month postoperative IOP change. RESULTS: Overall IOP was 18.0 ± 6.2 mm Hg before surgery and 15.7 ± 4.8 mm Hg 6 months after surgery (P < .001). IOP changed by -1.2 ± 5.8 mm Hg (P = .18) in the Repositioning group and -3.8 ± 6.4 mm Hg (P < .001) in the Exchange group (group difference: P = .05). Before surgery, 62 patients had either preexisting glaucoma (n = 39) or high IOP (≥22 mm Hg) with suspected glaucoma (n = 23), of whom several required preoperative IOP-lowering treatment. In the postoperative period, 28% and 21% of the patients in each operation group, respectively, required IOP-lowering treatment with glaucoma medications added, adjunctive laser trabeculoplasty, cyclodiode laser, or filtering surgery. Only 0 and 3 patients, respectively, discontinued their IOP-lowering medication. CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed an IOP decrease after late in-the-bag IOL dislocation surgery that seemed to be more pronounced with IOL exchange. However, associated high IOP was not resolved by dislocation surgery in many patients, and increased IOP-lowering treatment in the postoperative course was commonly required.

Late in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess preoperative features, frequency, surgical approaches and outcomes of late in-the-bag dislocation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. METHODS: Seventy-seven patients (81 eyes) were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were patients with pre-existing pseudoexfoliation syndrome who underwent surgery for late in-the-bag IOL dislocation between March 2004 and April 2010. Medical records were reviewed. Data from before and after secondary surgery were analysed. RESULTS: Mean time between cataract extraction and secondary surgery for late in-the-bag dislocation of posterior chamber IOLs was 8.5 years. The increase in frequency within the reviewed period was statistically significant, ranging from six patients in the first year to 25 patients in the final year (p = 0.004). When surgical correction was performed within 1 month of referral, deterioration of the dislocation occurred in only one of 23 patients (4.3%). Complications, especially vitreous loss, occurred significantly more frequently during exchange surgery (n = 23) when compared with scleral suturing (n = 50) (p < 0.0001). After surgery, however, no differences in complications (p = 0.98) or best-corrected visual acuity (p = 0.74) was found. In general, following secondary surgery, there was a statistically significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The frequency of late in-the-bag dislocation of posterior chamber IOLs in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome increased during the observation period. Our study suggests that surgical repair should not be delayed beyond 1 month and that scleral suturing is preferable to exchange surgery, because of less intraoperative complications.

Positioning of the posterior intraocular lens in the longer term following cataract surgery in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess long-term positioning of posterior chamber intraocular lenses within the capsular bag in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. METHODS: The study includes 44 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 85 age-matched controls, who underwent cataract surgery in 2001 and 2002 at the Eye Department, Oslo University Hospital. In 2008, all patients were re-examined. A comparison of the extent of possible decentration in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome was made by evaluating Scheimpflug images (Pentacam) of the anterior segment. RESULTS: It was found that, 6-7 years following cataract surgery, posterior chamber intraocular lenses were positioned lower in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome than in control eyes. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.01). Downward shift was associated with presence of glaucoma only in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (p=0.01). No patients had visual disturbances related to displacement of the intraocular lens. Three of the patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (6.8%) had observable pseudophacodonesis by slit-lamp examination, compared to one in the control group (1.2%). The study demonstrated that Pentacam is an appropriate instrument to measure decentration of intraocular lenses. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that, 6-7 years after cataract surgery, the intraocular lenses within the capsular bag are more prone to decentration in pseudoexfoliation syndrome eyes, compared to controls.