Cataract surgery in the very elderly

Abstract

To analyze the outcome of cataract extraction in patients aged 85 years and older (≥85 group) and to compare their outcome with that of patients younger than 85 years (≤84 group). Cataract surgeons participating in the Swedish National Cataract Outcome Study during 1995 to 1997. A prospective observational study was performed that evaluated patients’ self-assessed visual function before and 6 months after cataract extraction. Mean age of the 4819 patients having cataract extraction at participating clinics during March 1995, 1996, and 1997 with complete follow-up data was 75.6 years; 67.5% were women. Preoperative and intraoperative data were reported at the time of surgery. Final postoperative visual acuity, refraction, and keratometry were recorded. Each study period closed 6 months after surgery. The Catquest questionnaire was completed before surgery and 6 months after surgery. Of those with complete data, 757 patients (15.7%) were in the ≥85 group. In this group, visual acuity in the operative eye improved in 84.3% and a visual acuity of 0.5 or better was achieved in 71.4%. A no-benefit outcome, as defined by the Catquest questionnaire, was found in 12.7% of the ≥85 group and 8.4% of the ≤84 group. Elderly patients on average had a good outcome, although not as good as that in younger patients. Certain groups were identified as having an excellent result and others of having a high risk of an adverse outcome.