MANAGEMENT OF SILICONE-INDUCED CATARACT IN AIDS PATIENTS TREATED FOR VIRAL RETINITIS-ASSOCIATED RETINAL-DETACHMENT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of cataract surgery for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who underw ent vitrectomy and silicone tamponade for viral retinitis-associated r etinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively r eviewed the data of five AIDS patients (five eyes) who had cataract wi thin a mean period of 4 months following vitrectomy and silicone oil t amponade for viral retinitis-associated retinal detachment. Phacoemuls ification and implantation of a polymethylmethacrylate posterior chamb er intraocular lens were performed. The mean postoperative followup wa s 3 months. RESULTS: Neither silicone oil loss nor retinal redetachmen t were reported postoperatively. Visual acuity improved in two eyes an d remained unchanged in one eye. Total blindness occurred in two eyes. CONCLUSION: Although cataract surgery in these eyes is a relative eas y procedure and does not interfere with the retinal status, visual out come remains poor because of possible postoperative optic atrophy.