Effect of cataract surgery on the progression of age-related macular degeneration

Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are common causes of decreased vision and blindness in individuals over age 50. Although surgery is the most effective treatment for cataracts, it may accelerate the progression of AMD, so this study further evaluated the influence of cataract surgery for AMD through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Cochrane Systematic Evaluation method was adopted, and computer searches were conducted for the China Knowledge Network, Wanfang, Vipul, SinoMed, PubMed, SpringerLink, Clinicalkey, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, OVID, and Embase databases of cohort studies on the impact of cataract surgery on AMD, with search timeframes up to May 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata/12.0.

A total of 8 cohort studies were included in the study. The results showed that the relative risk (RR) of AMD progression after cataract surgery was not significantly different, RR 1.194 [95% credibility interval (CI) 0.897-1.591]; the risk remained increased more than 5 years after surgery, RR 1.372 (95% CI 1.062-1.772).

There is still a significant positive correlation between cataract surgery and increase the risk of worsening of AMD progression, and faster progression of early-to-late AMD found in cataract surgery with longer follow-up of patients.