Cataract Formation and Progression in Patients <50 Years Old After Vitrectomy
By Peggy Denny and selected by Andrew P. Schachat, MD
Journal Highlights
Ophthalmology Retina, March/April 2017
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Kataria and Thompson performed a clinical records review to measure the development and rate of progression of nuclear sclerotic (NSC), posterior subcapsular (PSC), and cortical spoking (CS) cataracts in nondiabetic patients younger than age 50 years after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). The authors found that there was a small, though significant, increase in NSC and PSC over a mean follow-up of 1.43 years (range, 0.2-10.6 years).
This retrospective cohort study included 26 eyes of 26 patients who had undergone PPV before the age of 50 years. The eyes were graded from 0 to 4 for NSC, PSC, and CS according the lens opacity classification system prior to vitrectomy and at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12, until discharged from care, lost to follow-up, or undergoing cataract surgery. The researchers used a linear regression model to calculate the rate of progression.
After vitrectomy, 11 of the 26 eyes that had a score of 0 for NSC, PSC, or CS at baseline developed NSC, PSC, or both; there was no increase in CS. The authors found that the rate of change for NSC was +0.09 grades/year and +0.16 grades/year for PSC; both were significant compared with fellow eyes. Based on their regression model, they estimated that it would take 11.1 years for NSC and 6.25 years for PSC to progress by 1 grade after vitrectomy.
The authors concluded that although there was a minimal increase in NSC and PSC scores, cataract progression is not a significant factor in the first few years after vitrectomy in patients less than 50 years of age.
The original article can be found here.