Retinal detachment after cataract extraction in myopic eyes

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the incidence of retinal detachment (RD) after cataract extraction in people 40 years of age or older with axial myopia (i.e., axial length ≥25.5 mm). Setting: Fifteen Danish eye clinics. Methods: Two hundred forty-five eyes had cataract extraction performed at 15 eye clinics; 237 eyes had extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and 8 eyes, intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE). Postoperative data were reported by the practicing ophthalmologists. Mean follow-up was 27 months (range 14 to 32 months). Results: Five RDs occurred in the 245 eyes (2.0%). Excluding the ICCE cases and the two cases of combined cornea transplantation and ECCE, RD occurred in 4 of the 235 eyes that had ECCE (1.7%). The incidence after ECCE with posterior chamber lens implantation was 1.4%. Complete postoperative status was reported on 158 eyes. Forty-eight eyes (30.4%). had a neodymium:YAG capsulotomy and 3 (6.0%) developed an RD 1, 3.5, and 21 months after the capsulotomy. Conclusion: The RD incidence after ECCE with posterior chamber lens implantation was low but higher than that in unselected populations. The incidence increased after laser capsulotomy.