Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome and the progression of diabetic retinopathy after phacoemulsification cataract surgery in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 40 diabetic patients with or without diabetic retinopathy and 80 non-diabetic patients. All patients underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery with clear corneal temporal incision with foldable intraocular lens implantation. Follow up was done on day 1, day 7, after 1month,3 months and 6 months. During follow up all the patients underwent visual acuity testing and detailed anterior and posterior segment examination.
Results: The final best corrected visual acuity at the end of 1 month and 6 months was in the range of 6/9-6/6 in 95% of cases as well as controls.2 diabetic cases (5.55%) without pre-operative diabetic retinopathy developed mild diabetic retinopathy at the end of 6 months. One case (2.5%) where vision was deteriorated from 6/12 to 6/36 due to progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion: The final visual outcome was improved in both the groups and was comparable. The progression of diabetic retinopathy was related to the duration of diabetes and the uncontrolled diabetic status and not to the uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
This work is licensed under a