Is cataract surgery justified in patients with age related macular degeneration? A visual function and quality of life assessment
Open Access
- 1 December 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by BMJ in British Journal of Ophthalmology
- Vol. 84 (12), 1343-1348
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.84.12.1343
Abstract
AIMS To determine whether patients with age related macular degeneration (ARMD) benefit from cataract surgery in terms of visual function and quality of life measures, and to assess the impact of surgery on the progression of ARMD. METHODS A prospective study was carried out of patients with and without ARMD undergoing cataract surgery. Data were collected from 187 patients at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh and the Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford. The patients were divided into three groups: (1) a control group with ARMD and no surgery (n=41), (2) a study group of patients with ARMD who underwent cataract surgery (n=90), and (3) a second control group of patients without ocular comorbidities who underwent cataract surgery (n=56). Visual function and quality of life assessments were carried out at baseline and 3–5 months after baseline or surgery. RESULTS There were significant improvements both in terms of quality of life and visual function measures in the study group. Benefits were greater in patients with moderate cataract irrespective of the degree of ARMD. No increased incidence in progression to the “wet” form of ARMD was found. Improvements in quality of life measures and visual function were more pronounced in patients with no ocular comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS Patients with mild and moderate degrees of ARMD do benefit from cataract surgery and the benefits are greater in patients with moderate degrees of lens opacity. Longer follow up is required to assess the risk of increased ARMD progression.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- National cataract surgery survey 1997-8: a report of the results of the clinical outcomesBritish Journal of Ophthalmology, 1999
- Gains from cataract surgery: visual function and quality of life.British Journal of Ophthalmology, 1996
- Increased prevalence of disciform macular degeneration after cataract extraction with implantation of an intraocular lens.British Journal of Ophthalmology, 1994
- Evidence for the Validity of the Short-form 36 Questionnaire (SF-36) in an Elderly PopulationAge and Ageing, 1994
- Evolution of soft drusen in age-related macular degenerationEye, 1994
- Validating the SF-36 health survey questionnaire: new outcome measure for primary care.BMJ, 1992
- Generic and Disease-Specific Measures in Assessing Health Status and Quality of LifeMedical Care, 1989
- The Sickness Impact Profile: Development and Final Revision of a Health Status MeasureMedical Care, 1981
- The importance of measuring contrast sensitivity in cases of visual disturbance.British Journal of Ophthalmology, 1978
- CONTRAST SENSITIVITY IN MACULAR DISEASEActa Ophthalmologica, 1977