Complications of extracapsular cataract surgery in chronic renal failure patients

Purpose In chronic renal failure (CRF) patients the risk of per- and post-o perative complications in cataract surgery is high. The most frequent compl ications observed in these patients and the prevalence of cataract were stu died. Methods Eighty-two CRF patients who had undergone ophthalmic examination be tween December 1996 and April 1998 at Baskent University, Department of Oph thalmology, were retrospectively analysed. Of 82 patients, 18 eyes of 14 CR F patients between 37 and 79 years of age underwent cataract extraction. Pl anned extracapsular cataract extraction was performed in all patients and a ll but one had posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. In the post -operative period, scrapings of the corneal infiltrates were cultured and s mears were examined, and the conjunctiva was swabbed and cultured also. Results Per-operative hypotony and scleral collapse occurred in 1 patient, and another had haemorrhage in the anterior chamber. Postoperatively, sutur e infiltration was observed in 10 eyes. These lesions disappeared after top ical steroid and antibiotic treatment. Conclusions Patients with CRF require special surgical considerations since they face both general surgical problems and others that arise due to thei r disease.