[Does cataract surgery with lens implantation influence the course of age-related macular degeneration?]

To evaluate the influence of cataract surgery with posterior chamber lens implantation on preexisting macular degeneration we divided 60 eyes of 54 patients in a group with 1) preoperative non exudative macular degeneration (50 eyes/47 patients) and 2) preoperative exudative macular degeneration (10 eyes/9 patients). Postoperatively, we found in the first group a visual improvement in 64%, an unchanged vision in 28%, and a deterioration in 8% of the cases. In the late postoperative course all eyes showed a visual acuity at least as preoperative values (6 eyes). In the second group, vision improved in 30%, remained unchanged in 30%, and deteriorated in 40% immediately after surgery. In 2 of these 4 cases vision showed no improvement even in the late postoperative period. A sudden increase of subretinal fluid in the macular region due to the operation trauma seems to be responsible.