Long-term trends confirm safety of cataract surgery

Ophthalmology. 2011;118(6):1055-1061.

Cataract surgery remains a safe procedure, and the incidence of major complications has lessened over time, a study found.

"Although there was considerable change in operative technique, this alone may not be the sole reason for the reduction in complications; other factors not measured in this study are likely involved," the study authors said.

Researchers evaluated cataract surgery complications over a 22-year period in Western Australia. The study included 129,982 cataract/lens surgery patients, of which 2,087 (1.6%) had complications that resulted in secondary surgery.

Retinal detachment occurred in 905 cases (0.70%), making it the most common complication, the study said.

The other complications included IOL dislocation (361 cases), endophthalmitis (228 cases), wound dehiscence (227 cases), pseudophakic corneal edema (207 cases) and dropped nucleus (159 cases).

Complications decreased almost 70% during the study period, and complications after phacoemulsification have been cut in half since the late 1990s.

However, IOL dislocations have almost doubled since 1985, and extracapsular extraction was associated with an increased rate of IOL dislocations, dropped nucleus and wound dehiscence, the study said.

Further study is necessary to determine the cause of these increases.