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  • Cataract Formation and Progression in Patients <50 Years Old After Vitrectomy

    By Peggy Denny and selected by Andrew P. Schachat, MD
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    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.