Ocular attacks after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantationin patients with Behcet disease

Purpose: To elucidate factors related to ocular inflammatory attacks after cataract surgery, limited to a single procedure of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation, in patients with Behcet disease, Methods: Th is retrospective study included 12 consecutive patients (16 eyes) with Behc et disease, who underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implanta tion during 4 years from January 1995 to December 1998 at three institution s, Their medical records were reviewed, and factors related to the ocular a ttacks were analyzed, Results: Four eyes of 3 patients experienced ocular a ttacks during 1 year before cataract surgery, while 4 eyes of 4 patients de veloped ocular attacks during 1 year after the surgery, The development of ocular attacks after cataract surgery was significantly related with the pr esence of ocular attacks during 1 year before the surgery (p = 0.0286, chi (2) test), The patients' age or gender, the duration of Behcet disease or o ral medications for Behcet disease did not show any relationship with the p resence or absence of ocular attacks after cataract surgery, The visual acu ity improved in all patients after the surgery, including those who develop ed ocular attacks, Conclusions: The experience of ocular attacks during 1 y ear before cataract surgery is related to postoperative ocular attacks, Des pite postoperative ocular attacks, phacoemulsification with intraocular len s implantation is a safe procedure to expect a good visual outcome in patie nts with Behcet disease, Copyright (C) 2001 S.Karger AG, Basel.