Long-term follow-up of anterior uveitis after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation

Purpose: To assess whether cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) impl antation in patients with anterior uveitis interfere with the natural cours e of the ocular disease. Setting: Tertiary care center at the University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome , Italy. Methods: Cataract extraction and IOL implantation were performed in 24 pati ents with uveitis-related cataract: 12 with Fuchs' heterochromic iridocycli tis (Group I)and 12 with other types of anterior uveitis (Group 2). The mea n follow-up in the 2 groups was 33.6 months and 24.8 months, respectively. The number and severity (inflammatory score) of uveitis relapses in ail pat ients over the same period, were recorded. Results: After surgery, the mean number and severity of uveitis relapses de creased: Group 1, from 1.83 +/- 1.90 (SD) to 1.00 +/- 1.21 and from 1.08 +/ - 0.90 to 0.92 +/- 0.67, respectively; Group 2, from 2.74 +/- 3.44 to 1.25 +/- 1.71 and from 1.83 +/- 1.10 to 1.25 +/- 0.75, respectively (P =.046). T here were no statistically significant between-group differences. in Group 2, a trend toward worse visual rehabilitation was seen; this was significan tly different from the result in Group 1 (P =.018) because of preoperative optic nerve damage, macula disease, or both. Conclusion: Cataract surgery and IOL implantation did not negatively influe nce the natural course of uveitis in patients with Fuchs' heterochromic iri docyclitis. Correct surgical timing, selection of cases, and adequate anti- inflammatory therapy may promote similar results in patients with other typ es of anterior uveitis. J Cataract Refract Surg 1999. 25. 1521-1526 (C) 199 9 ASCRS and ESCRS.