Cataract surgery under systemic infliximab therapy in patients with refractory uveitis associated with Behcet disease

This study is to evaluate the outcome of cataract surgery in patients with refractory uveitis associated with Behçet disease (BD) treated with infliximab.

A retrospective study in a university-based tertiary referral center in the period between July 2003 and November 2011.

This is a retrospective study of patients with refractory uveitis associated with BD who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery under systemic infliximab therapy between July 2003 and November 2011 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Six patients (9 eyes), 5 of which were male and 1 female, were identified in this study. The mean (SD) age and follow-up period were 26.2 (6.6) years (range, 16-36 years) and 51.6 (28.8) months (range, 12.84 months), respectively. All the patients underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Postoperatively, visual acuity improved in all eyes and was 20/40 or better in 7 eyes (77.8%). In the immediate postoperative period, anterior chamber inflammation ranged from 2+ to 3+ cells. None of the patients developed inflammation relapse postoperatively. The most common postoperative complication was posterior capsular opacification in 5 eyes (55%), 4 of which were managed with neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet laser capsulotomy. Three eyes had glaucoma, 2 of which underwent successful glaucoma surgery and one was managed with topical antiglaucoma medications.

In patients with refractory uveitis associated with BD who are treated with infliximab, cataract surgery is safe and has a good prognosis.