Outcomes and complications of cataract surgery in patients with chronic ocular graft-versus-host-disease-a multicenter, retrospective analysis

Purpose To evaluate the outcome of phacoemulsification in patients with chronic ocular Graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). Methods Retrospective, observational multicenter study from 1507 oGVHD patients. From the patient files, data were collected including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), Schirmer's test I, tear film break-up time (TFBUT), corneal fluorescein staining score, postoperative complications, and pre- and post-operative topical therapy. Results Seventy-three patients underwent cataract surgery in 104 eyes. In n = 84 eyes, the oGVHD NIH grade was documented; 12% (n= 12) of analyzed eyes were staged oGVHD NIH grade 1, 31% (n= 32) NIH 2 and 39% (n = 41) NIH 3. The mean BCVA improved in 82% of the eyes (n = 86 eyes). BCVA significantly increased from 0.7 +/- 0.5 to 0.4 +/- 0.4 LogMAR after surgery independent from oGVHD severity. The mean IOP decreased from 14 +/- 4 to 13 +/- 4 mmHg after surgery. Visual acuity was moderately correlated to the pre-operative degree of corneal staining (Pearson p = 0.26, p = 0.002, Cohen's effect size f= 0.29). The visual acuity decreased by 0.078 LogMar units (95% CI =0.027-0.141) with each increase of corneal staining by one grade (p = 0.05). After surgery, corneal epitheliopathy increased significantly in 42% (n = 44) of the eyes. Postoperative complications included corneal perforation (n = 6, 6%), cystoid macular edema (n = 4, 4%), and endophthalmitis (n =1 , 1%) . Conclusion Phacoemulsification in patients with chronic oGVHD significantly improves visual acuity, but is associated with an increased risk of complications in particular corneal epitheliopathy and corneal perforations.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the outcome of phacoemulsification in patients with chronic oGVHD. It found that the surgery significantly improved visual acuity, but also increased the risk of complications such as corneal epitheliopathy and corneal perforations.