Cataract surgery outcomes in eyes with chorioretinal coloboma

To evaluate the outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with chorioretinal coloboma.

Tertiary eyecare center, New Delhi, India.

Retrospective case series.

Medical records of patients with chorioretinal coloboma having cataract surgery between January 2016 and May 2018 were reviewed. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), grade of cataract, type of chorioretinal coloboma, type of surgery, postoperative CDVA, and complications were recorded.

Thirty-eight patients with a mean age at surgery of 36.7 years were included. The mean CDVA at presentation was 1.83 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] ± 0.31 (SD). Advanced nuclear sclerosis occurred in 61.4% of cases and lens subluxation in 10.2% of cases. Phacoemulsification (56.4%) was the most commonly performed cataract surgery followed by lens aspiration (12.8%) and extracapsular cataract surgery (12.8%). Uneventful cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation was performed in 69.2% of cases. Intraoperative complications included 7 cases of bag dialyses, 3 of posterior capsule ruptures, and 1 of capsulorhexis extension. The mean postoperative CDVA at 6 weeks and 1 year was 1.64 ± 0.51 logMAR and 1.51 ± 0.58 logMAR, respectively. Postoperative complications included 11 cases each of raised intraocular pressure and corneal edema; 2 cases each of IOL decentration, capsule phimosis, and corneal edema; and 1 case of posterior capsule opacification. A second intervention was required in 4 cases (2 endothelial keratoplasties, 1 IOL explantation, 1 neodymium:YAG capsulotomy).

Cataracts in patients with chorioretinal coloboma are usually advanced compared with age-matched patients with senile cataract. Delayed surgery results in suboptimum outcomes; thus, surgery should be scheduled as soon as possible after the cataract is documented.