Good postop VA possible after cataract surgery despite age-related maculopathy

Good postoperative visual acuity outcome is achievable in some cataract patients with early age-related maculopathy, according to a study. The study found that late-stage maculopathy can be recognized both pre- and post-cataract surgery with good sensitivity and specificity.

Thuan Q. Pham, MB, BS, and colleagues in Australia reviewed the records of 656 patients in a large public hospital to determine the sensitivity and specificity of preoperative diagnoses in detecting age-related maculopathy (ARM) lesions in patients undergoing cataract surgery both before and after surgery. Postoperative visual acuity was assessed 4 weeks after surgery.

ARM lesions were detected in 98 eyes before surgery and in 92 after surgery. Sensitivities for detecting late ARM lesions were 100%; for soft drusen, 94%; and for retinal pigment epithelium abnormalities, 69%. Specificities for ARM lesions and soft drusen were both 100%, and for retinal pigment epithelium 77%. Postoperative visual acuity was 6/12 or better in 82% of the eyes.

The study is published in the August issue of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.