Progression of age-related macular degeneration after cataract surgery in patients with yellow and clear intraocular lens

1. Chee-Foong Chong¹
2. Pham Thuan¹
3. Kuo Luong Lee¹
4. Jamie Chew¹
5. Andrew Chang²
6. Henry Liu¹

¹Dubbo Eye Centre, Dubbo, Australia
²Sydney Retina Clinic and Day Surgery, Sydney, Australia

Purpose: Blue-blocking intraocular lenses (B-IOL) were thought to confer more macula protection against the development of Age-related Macula Degeneration (AMD). However, this claim has not been substantiated. We aimed to assess the progression of AMD in patients implanted with a Clear IOL (C-IOL) in one eye and a B-IOL in the other eye.

Methods: A prospective non-randomised case-control study was conducted on patients undergoing bilateral cataract surgery with implantation of a C-IOL implanted in one eye and within 1 year a B-IOL in the fellow eye, by a single surgeon using "prechop" technique. Fundus photographs were taken post-operatively and at 1, then 2 years follow-up. Clinical Age Related Maculopathy Staging systems (CARMS) were used to grade AMD. Data were assessed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) by an independent statistician.

Results: A total of 100 patients (200 eyes) were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 74 years. The mean duration between consecutive cataract surgeries was 307.05days. The mean duration of follow-up was 25.9 months. The mean CARMS grade for eyes implanted with C-IOLand B-IOL were similar pre-operatively (grade 2a). At the 2-year follow-up period, eyes with a C-IOL had a similar progression of AMD to those with the fellow eye with a B-IOL(p=0.45).

Conclusion: We found no difference in the progression of AMD in those implanted with a B-IOL and those with a C-IOL 2 years after cataract surgery. Longer term follow-up is required.