Purpose: Visual results and retinal changes in diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery.
Methods: In a prospective study we followed up 198 eyes of diabetic patients who underwent cataract surgery for at least six months postoperatively. Pre and postoperative retinal status were assessed by clinical examination and fluorescein angiography. Per and postoperative complications and the evolution of visual acuity were noted.
Results: In 83.3% of eyes, visual acuity improved by two or more lines. In 59.6% of patients, visual acuity at six months was more than 6/15. The quality of visual outcome diminished with the severity of retinopathy, but in the most serious cases, lens extraction allowed fundus observation and treatment. Inflammatory complications, posterior capsule opacification and cystoid macular oedema were significantly more frequent in cases of preoperative diabetic retinopathy than in normal fundus. We observed few aggravations of the diabetic retinopathy, but underline the high frequency of cystoid macular edema in diabetic patients.
Conclusion: Visual results are good in diabetic patients with mild retinopathy and, in severe cases, surgery allows retinal examination and treatment.