Near-UV radiation from the operating microscope and pseudophakic cystoid macular edema

We performed a prospective randomized study of 297 patients to determine the effect of a UV-blocking filter on the operating microscope on the angiographic incidence of cystoid macular edema in patients undergoing extracapsular surgery with implantation of a posterior chamber lens. Patients were randomly allocated preoperatively to two groups undergoing surgery with or without a UV filter in place. Of the 297 patients, 205 had angiograms readable for the presence or absence of cystoid macular edema. The incidence of aphakic cystoid macular edema in patients without the filter was 21% v 17.3% in the group with a filter. This difference was not significant. The presence of a UV-blocking filter on the operating microscope makes no difference in the angiographic incidence of cystoid macular edema or the visual outcome in these cases.