Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in patients with anterior uveitis.

PURPOSE: To assess the results of phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation in patients with cataract secondary to anterior uveitis. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. DESIGN: Case series. METHOD: Consecutive patients with anterior uveitis and cataract were prospectively studied for outcomes after phacoemulsification and PC IOL implantation. RESULTS: Fifty-five eyes (48 patients; mean age 44.9 years ± 15.6 [SD]) were included. Patients were followed for 6 months. The etiology of uveitis was presumed idiopathic anterior uveitis (n = 22), herpes simplex virus-associated anterior uveitis (n = 10), Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (n = 10), and anterior uveitis associated with collagen vascular disease (n = 13). Preoperative complications secondary to uveitis included posterior synechiae (12 eyes), glaucoma (26 eyes), and sequelae of cystoid macular edema (CME) (21 eyes). At the final visit, the corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/40 or better in 52 eyes (94.5%) and 20/20 in 33 eyes (60.0%). The CDVA was worse than 20/40 in 3 eyes because of preoperative anterior and posterior segment abnormalities. Postoperative complications were CME, recurrent uveitis, and posterior capsule opacity in 7 eyes (12.7%) each; fibrinous anterior chamber reaction in 6 eyes (10.9%); raised intraocular pressure in 4 eyes; peripheral anterior synechiae in 1 eye (1.8%); and hypotony in 1 eye (1.8%). CONCLUSION: Patients with a history of anterior uveitis and cataract having phacoemulsification with PC IOL implantation had excellent visual results with a relatively low complication rate. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.