Refractive outcomes after cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in patients over 40 years of age

Abstract

Objectives: To determine postoperative outcomes of patients older than 40 years undergoing cataract surgery, as well as the influence of axial length and age.
Methods: Retrospective observational analytic study evaluating patients over 40 years of age who underwent cataract surgery using phacoemulsification followed by intraocular lens implantation from January 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018. Parameters analyzed were visual acuity and subjective refraction 1 month postoperatively, postoperative refractive error and preoperative axial length and patients’ age. Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for the association between variables, with a statistical significance of p < 0.05.
Results: A total of 87 eyes of 62 patients with a mean age of 72.89 ± 9.38 years were included. Average uncorrected visual acuity 1 month after the procedure was 0.20 ± 0.22 logMAR. Average refractive error was +0.34 ± 0.38 diopters (D) and its average absolute value was 0.42 ± 0.29D. The prevalence of a refractive error ≤ 1D was 96.5%. The postoperative absolute refractive error had no statistically significant association with axial length (p= 0.55) or age (p= 0.91). In contrast, postoperative visual acuity was statistically associated with axial length (p= 0.01) and age (p< 0.02).
Conclusions: In this analysis we have found that age and axial length had an impact on postoperative visual acuity; however, no influence of these parameters on refractive error could be established.

Key words: cataract surgery, phacoemulsification, refraction, axial length.