[Long-term ophthalmologic follow-up after kidney transplantation]

16 renal transplant recipients underwent ophthalmological examination 11.4, 19.4 and 61.3 months after renal transplantation. The most common side effects of immunosuppressive therapy were steroid-induced cataract formation, steroid glaucoma, and recurrent subconjunctival haemorrhages. Posterior sub-capsular cataracts may develop as early as 2 months after surgery, reach their highest incidence within 2 years and may be reversible under low dosage steroid therapy. 75.5% of 57 ophthalmologically examined patients showed ocular complications or changes, but visual function was not severely disturbed. Despite hypertension in 23 cases, no hypertensive retinopathy was observed. In the light of these findings we assume that kidney transplantation has a positive influence on ocular functions, and especially on fundus changes dating from the time of regular dialysis treatment.