Ophthalmic Findings in Patients After Renal Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Nephrology
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Renal transplantation is a life-saving procedure, but patients may experience various complications.
• Ocular health is crucial for overall well-being and quality of life in transplant recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct comprehensive ophthalmic examinations in renal transplant recipients.
• To identify and characterize ocular alterations post-transplantation.
• To correlate ophthalmic findings with clinical factors like renal function and immunosuppression.

Main Methods:

• Ophthalmic examinations were performed on 42 renal transplant patients (84 eyes).
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in 33 patients.
• Ocular findings were analyzed in relation to patient demographics, immunosuppressive regimens, and post-operative clinical data.

Main Results:

• 88% of patients exhibited at least one ocular abnormality.
• Common findings included impaired visual acuity (74%), cataracts (57.1%), and hypertensive/atherosclerotic retinopathy (52.4%).
• Reduced RNFL thickness was observed in 75.8% of patients, correlated with transplantation duration and infections. Cataract formation correlated with age and methylprednisolone use.

Conclusions:

• Ocular disorders are highly prevalent in renal transplant patients.
• Immunosuppression, post-operative infections, and aging are significant risk factors for ocular complications.
• Regular ophthalmic monitoring is essential for early detection and management of visual impairments in this population.