Cataract Surgery and the Risk of Aging Macula Disorder

(Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2008;49:4795-4800.)


To investigate still-controversial associations between prior cataract surgery and aging macula disorder (AMD) in a general population..... After adjusting for age, sex, follow-up time, and the correlation between eyes, a history of cataract surgery was associated with incident dry late AMD (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.82–6.49). This association remained significant after additional adjustment for smoking status and AMD stage at baseline (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.68–7.08). No statistically significant association was found between prior cataract surgery and the incidence of wet late AMD or early AMD. Homozygous CFH Y402H carriers had higher risks for all types of AMD compared to heterozygotes and noncarriers after cataract surgery, particularly for dry AMD.
CONCLUSIONS. The findings imply that cataract surgery increases the risk of dry AMD, particularly in homozygous CFH Y402H carriers. The risk of AMD progression should be considered before recommending cataract surgery to patients with cataract and early AMD.