OCCURRENCE OF PIGMENT PRECIPITATES AFTER SMALL-INCISION CATARACT-SURGERY

Purpose: To assess the incidence of pigment precipitates and potential association with glaucoma, diabetes, and/or intraocular lens (IOL) op tic center thickness in patients having small incision cataract surger y and foldable IOL implantation. Setting: Eye Care Physicians of Michi gan, Jackson, Michigan, USA. Methods: A retrospective data analysis wa s conducted of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of glaucoma or d iabetes or in whom pigment precipitates had been reported after catara ct surgery. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients in whom pigment precipita tes had been reported and Group 2, 92 patients in whom no precipitates were reported. Two statistical models were used to analyze preoperati ve, demographic, surgical, and postoperative variables determine poten tial correlations. An overall incidence of the occurrence of pigment p recipitates was calculated based on the total number of patients with foldable IOLs. Results: The incidence of pigment precipitates was 0.35 % (n = 23/6519). Mean time to occurrence was 5.5 months. No between-gr oup differences were found in pathologies or other demographics or pos toperative variables. Intraocular lens size and implantation correlate d with the occurrence of pigment precipitates. Conclusion: The develop ment of pigment precipitates after foldable IOL implantation did not a ppear to be affected by the presence of glaucoma or diabetes. Newer, s limmer IOL styles and refined insertion techniques were associated wit h a lower occurrence of precipitates.