OUTCOME OF CATARACT OPERATIONS PERFORMED TO PERMIT DIAGNOSIS, TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR LASER THERAPY, OR TO PERFORM LASER THERAPY OF RETINAL DISORDERS

Cataract operations may be recommended when retinal disease is suspect ed but cannot be adequately diagnosed or treated because of lens opaci ty. We evaluated the outcome of cataract operations performed under th ose circumstances. We reviewed the records of 119 patients who were ex amined at the Wilmer Retinal Vascular Center and within three months u nderwent a cataract operation. We identified 17 patients (20 eyes) who underwent a cataract operation at the recommendation of a retinal spe cialist; to permit diagnosis, to determine eligibility for laser thera py, or to perform laser therapy. After the cataract operation, eight ( 40%) of the 20 eyes were found to have a retinal disease for which las er therapy was recommended, and six (30%) of the 20 eyes underwent las er therapy that, before the cataract operation, had been impossible. T hese results indicate that a cataract operation may be useful when len ticular opacity prevents diagnosis or treatment in a patient with a su spected retinal disorder.