Are there sex-based disparities in cataract surgery?

AIM: To investigate sex-based differences in the occurrence of intra-operative and post-operative complications and associated visual outcomes following cataract surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients who had phacoemulsification cataract surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Data collected included the patient's health history, ocular comorbidities, operative and post-operative complications, and the post-operative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to account for the correlation of some patients having two eyes included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 11 977 eyes from 7253 patients were included in the study. Ocular comorbidities differed by sex, with males having significantly higher percentages of traumatic cataracts (males 0.7% vs females 0.1%), prior ocular surgery (6.7% vs 5.5%), and mature cataracts (2.8% vs 1.9%). Conversely, females had significantly higher rates of pseudoexfoliation (2.0% vs 3.2%). In unadjusted analysis, males had higher rates of posterior capsular rupture (0.8% vs 0.4%) and vitreous loss (1.0% vs 0.6%), but this difference was not significant after adjustment for confounders. Males had a significantly increased risk of post-operative retinal detachment, but in multivariable analysis this was no longer significant. Males were significantly less likely to undergo post-operative neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification (OR=0.8, 95%CI=0.7-0.9, P=0.0005). The BCVA was slightly worse for males pre-operatively; but post-operatively, both sexes exhibited similar visual acuity of Snellen equivalent 20/25. CONCLUSION: The study finds that in a cohort of patients presenting for cataract surgery, sex differences exist in pre-operative comorbidities and surgical characteristics that contribute to higher rates of some complications for males. However, observed surgical complication rates exhibit almost no difference by sex after adjusting for pre-operative differences and post-operative BCVA is similar between sexes.

Correlation of Complement Activation in Aqueous and Vitreous in Patients With Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: A growing body of evidence suggests complement dysregulation is present in the vitreous of patients with diabetic eye disease. Further translational study could be simplified if aqueous-as opposed to vitreous-were used to sample the intraocular complement environment. Here, we analyze aqueous samples and assess whether a correlation exists between aqueous and vitreous complement levels. Methods: We collected aqueous, vitreous, and plasma samples from patients with and without proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) undergoing vitrectomy. We assessed correlation between complement levels in aqueous and vitreous samples after using a normalizing ratio to correct for vascular leakage. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess the correlation between complement levels in the aqueous and vitreous. Results: Aqueous samples were obtained from 17 cases with PDR and 28 controls. In all patients, aqueous Ba, C3a, and albumin levels were strongly correlated with vitreous levels (Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.8 for Ba and C3a and 0.7 for albumin; all P values < 0.0001). In PDR eyes only, aqueous and vitreous C3a levels were significantly correlated (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.7; P = 0.002), whereas in control eyes, both Ba and C3a (Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.7; P < 0.0001) were significantly correlated. Conclusions: A strong correlation exists between aqueous and vitreous complement levels in diabetic eye disease. Translational Relevance: The results establish that accurate sampling of the intraocular complement can be done by analyzing aqueous specimens, allowing for the rapid and safe measurement of experimental complement targets and treatment response.

Complement Activation in the Vitreous of Patients With Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose: A growing body of evidence points to complement dysregulation in diabetes. Early studies have indicated the presence of complement components inside the eye in patients with diabetic retinopathy, but these data have been confounded by leakage of proteins from the systemic circulation into the vitreous cavity. Methods: We took samples of plasma and vitreous from patients with and without proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and measured levels of 16 complement components as well as albumin. We employed a normalized ratio using local and systemic complement and albumin levels to control for vascular leakage into the vitreous cavity. Results: Before normalizing, we found significantly higher levels of 16 complement components we measured in PDR eyes compared to controls. After normalizing, levels of C4, factor B, and C5 were decreased compared to controls, while C3a and Ba levels were elevated compared to controls. We also found higher ratios of C3a/C3, C5a/C5, and Ba/factor B in PDR eyes compared to controls. Conclusions: We found evidence of local, intraocular activation of C3, C5, and factor B. The normalized data suggest involvement of the alternative complement pathway. By showing activation of specific complement components in PDR, this study identifies targets for diagnostic and therapeutic potential.