Is it worth performing cataract surgery in amblyopic eyes?
Reviewed by Eulee Seow

It was estimated that about 3% of all cataract surgeries in adults were performed in eyes that have pre-existing amblyopia, and there is a long-standing belief that eyes with amblyopia have limited benefit from cataract extraction in the adult age. This study analysed the visual outcomes of cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation in eyes with high myopia and presumed anisometropic amblyopia from January 2010 to December 2013. Eyes with axial length of the operated eye ≥30.0 mm were included, with eyes with an axial length difference of ≥2mm compared to the contralateral eye were presumed to have anisometropic amblyopia (Group 1). Eyes with an axial length difference within 0.3 mm compared to the contralateral eye were used as controls (Group 2).There were 39 eyes in Group 1 and 40 eyes in Group 2. They found that eyes with presumed anisometropic amblyopia received cataract operation at an older age and a poorer preoperative visual acuity as compared to control eyes, meaning that these patients were not enlisted for cataract surgery until late. Interestingly, visual improvement in these eyes was significantly more than the axial length-matched controls after adjusting for difference in age and preoperative visual acuity. The study results provide evidence to support cataract surgery in eyes with presumed anisometropic amblyopia, which have large axial length difference between fellow eyes.

Visual outcomes after cataract surgery in adults with presumed amblyopia and anisomyopia.
Chan TCY, Lam JKM, Ng ALK, et al.
ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA
2017;95:e515-e516.