PURPOSE: To estimate if a complicated phacoemulsification is a risk factor for developing age related macular degeneration. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study with review of records of 1150 patients, that underwent phacoemulsification surgery between 1995 and 1999, performed by a single surgeon (T.C.) Qui square test, Fisher exact test, and Mann-Whitney test were used to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were 224 participants who had cataract surgery on 297 eyes, and from this total, 240 were with no complication and 57 were complicated surgery. In the female group there were a total of 38 complicated surgery, and ten of those developed ARMD. (p = 0,0509). In the male group one in 19 of the eyes that have complicated surgery developed ARMD (p = 0,5737). CONCLUSION: There were no statistically significant increase in the incidence of ARMD in eyes that have complicated surgery, however more research is necessary to clarify the pathogeny of this desease.
Macular degeneration/surgery; Cataract extraction; Phacoemulsification; Choroidal neovascularization; Intraoperative complications; Age factors
