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Published on: December 1, 2023
Post-Operative Complications After Cataract Surgery in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and/or Sjögren's Syndrome
Sepehr Sadeghi1,2, Tzu-Ying Yu2, David Choi1,2
1Department of Ophthalmology, New Zealand National Eye Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Purpose:
To determine the frequency and types of postoperative complications following cataract surgery in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and/or Sjögren's syndrome (SS).
Patients And Methods:
A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive patients with RA and/or SS who underwent cataract surgery between 2006 and 2018.
Results:
A total of 100 eyes from 75 patients (mean age 73.1 ± 9.3 years) were included: RA (n=81), SS (n=11), and both RA and SS (n=8). Twenty-nine eyes had preoperative keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Postoperatively, 4% of eyes showed reduced best-corrected visual acuity. Cystoid macular oedema developed in 6 eyes (6%), and 3% experienced prolonged anterior chamber inflammation. One patient with SS developed a paracentral corneal melt without perforation, and another with SS developed postoperative endophthalmitis resulting in complete vision loss.
Conclusion:
Patients with RA, particularly those with SS and pre-existing dry eye, are at increased risk of postoperative complications after cataract surgery. Careful preoperative assessment and close postoperative monitoring are recommended in this population.
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