Outcomes and Predictive Factors After Cataract Surgery in Patients With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration. The Fight Retinal Blindness! Project

Purpose To evaluate outcomes and predictive factors of visual acuity (VA) change after cataract surgery in patients being treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Design Retrospective, matched case-control study. Methods We studied eyes undergoing cataract surgery that had been tracked since they first started treatment for nAMD. These eyes were compared with a cohort of unoperated phakic eyes being treated for nAMD (three per case) matched for treatment duration before cataract surgery, baseline VA, age and length of follow-up. Results We included 124 patients that had cataract surgery and 372 matched controls. The mean (95% CI) VA gained was 10.6 letters (7.8, 13.2; P Conclusions We found evidence of a modest effect of cataract surgery on CNV lesion activity in eyes being treated for nAMD. Despite this, visual outcomes were reassuringly good. Cataract surgery within 6 months of starting treatment for nAMD should be avoided if possible.