Cataract Surgery may increase risk of worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy, finds study

Prior to cataract surgery, individuals with at least 5 years of T2D were evaluated using a sensitivity analysis and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Main outcomes were patients who had cataract surgery had a higher chance of developing tractional retinal detachment (TRD), combined tractional and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (CTRD), vitreous hemorrhage (VH), and a composite result at one year when compared to those who did not.

For the right eye analysis, there were 7178 individuals in the study (n=3589) and control (n=3589) cohorts after PSM. Also, operated eyes had higher 1-year chances of PDR without complications, VH, and the composite outcome. A total of 7232 participants in the study (n = 3616) and control (n = 3616) cohorts after PSM were included in the left eye analysis. The operated eyes had higher 1-year probabilities of PDR without difficulties, VH, and the composite outcome.

Nearly, 4976 patients in the trial (n=2488) and control (n=2488) cohorts post-PSM were included in the sensitivity analysis of those with at least 5 years of T2D. Also, operated eyes showed higher 1-year risks of PDR without difficulties, VH, and the composite outcome. In every analysis, there was no discernible difference between the risk for TRD and CTRD. Overall, within a year following modern cataract surgery, there was a correlation between the transition from T2D NPDR to PDR.

Reference:

Loya, A., Hussain, Z. S., Muayad, J., Chauhan, M. Z., Soliman, M. K., & Sallam, A. B. (2025). Risk of progression of non-proliferative to proliferative diabetic retinopathy following cataract surgery. Ophthalmology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.02.006