Analysis and Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes, complications and postoperative progression in HIV patients undergoing cataract surgery in a teaching hospital.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with HIV/AIDS who had cataract surgery from January 2000 until December 2011 at a tertiary referral multidisciplinary hospital in Singapore.

Results: We identified 44 eyes from 29 patients. Preoperatively, 41.3% had no ophthalmic manifestations of HIV/AIDS, while 16 eyes had quiescent cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR). Postoperatively, 1 eye developed new CMVR, while 1 eye had reactivation of previous CMVR. Of eyes with new or previous CMVR, 1 eye developed rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) postoperatively. Only 3 eyes had prolonged postoperative inflammation. There were no cases of endophthalmitis or cystoid macular edema. Postoperative improvement of at least two Snellen lines was achieved in 86.6% of eyes.

Conclusions: Cataract surgery in HIV patients is generally safe, regardless of CD4 count, but their general and ocular health should be optimized preoperatively.

Keywords:

• Cataract
• complications
• cytomegalovirus retinitis
• HIV/AIDS
• surgery

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge the Infectious Diseases Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, for their help in identifying relevant patients for this study.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.