Cataract Surgery Outcomes in Patients with Chronic or Recurrent Uveitis

ABS TRACT Objective: To investigate the outcomes of phacoemulsification and posterior intraocular lens implantation (IOL) in patients with chronic or recurrent uveitis. Material and Methods: The records of 84 patients, who had phacoemulsification and IOL implantation between 2010 and 2015, were retrospectively examined. The main outcomes were final visual acuity, postoperative complications, the presence of relapse, the clinical features of patients who suffered a recurrence of intraocular inflammation and the effect of triamcinolone acetonide injection into the anterior chamber during surgery on the recurrence of inflammation after cataract surgery within the first 6 months. Results: The study included 109 eyes of 84 patients. The mean follow-up time was 52.6±41.8 (9-224) months. During the follow-up, posterior capsule opacification occurred in 48 (44.0%), deposits on the IOL surface in 19 (17.4%), posterior synechiae in 2 (1.8%), epiretinal membrane in 4 (3.6%), glaucoma in 7 (6.4%), and macular edema in 5 (4.5%) patients. The best corrected visual acuity with the Snellen chart at the final visit was ≤0.16 in 66.7% of serpiginous choroidopathy patients and 38% of Behçet patients. These rates were higher than with other clinical etiologies. Recurrence of uveitis within 6 months after cataract surgery occurred in 15 (13.7%) eyes. Recurrence was most common in patients with Behcet’s disease. Pre-existing macular lesions were accompanied by poor visual outcomes. There was no difference between the eyes administered triamcinolone into the anterior chamber or not, regarding the frequency of attacks within the first 6 months or the postoperative complications. Conclusion: Cataract surgery outcomes in patients with uveitis are satisfactory. However, patients with Behcet’s disease have higher risk for relapse of intraocular inflammation and worse visual outcomes.