New Study Finds Cataract Surgery Does Not Worsen AMD

A recent study conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that cataract surgery does not worsen the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients who have already started developing the condition. Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive disease caused by deterioration of nerve tissue in the retina, and it is the most common cause of blindness in adults over the age of 55.

The Johns Hopkins study examined the outcomes of cataract surgery performed on 86 elderly patients with AMD. One year after surgery, only 5 % of patients developed new AMD lesions in the eye that was operated on. This figure is not statistically different from the rate of new lesions developed in the subjects' other, unoperated eyes (3.3%).

This evidence contradicts data compiled in the late 1980s which indicated a link between cataract surgery and progression of AMD in patients. The findings in the Johns Hopkins study are very encouraging, but it does not settle the debate over the safety of cataract surgery for AMD patients. Most likely, several other studies must be conducted to conclusively settle this issue.

Ophthalmologists have an obligation to inform patients of the potential risks of AMD progression when recommending cataract surgery so that patents can make an educated decision before undergoing risky surgery.

Please contact The LASIK Directory to find a qualified ophthalmologist in your area.