Cataract Surgery in Patients With Uveitis Treated With Systemic Therapy in the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial and Follow-up Study: Risk Factors and Outcomes

center dot PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of, risk factors for, and outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with intermediate, posterior, and panuveitides treated with systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppression.center dot DESIGN: Cohort study of participants from a randomized clinical trial.center dot METHODS: A multicenter clinical trial with extended follow-up comprised the study setting. From the cohort of participants assigned to systemic therapy in the Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial and Follow-up Study, 125 phakic eyes of 74 patients with intermediate, posterior, or panuveitides treated with systemic therapy were included. The main outcome measures were cataract surgery and visual acuity after cataract surgery.center dot RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of cataract surgery was 43% at 7 years of follow-up, and the risk did not plateau. Risk factors for cataract surgery included age > 50 years (hazard ratio [HR] 2.86, 95% CI 1.52, 5.42; P = .001), topical corticosteroid use (time-updated HR 3.13, 95% CI 1.42, 6.94; P = .005), glaucoma medication use (HR 2.75, 95% CI 1.38, 5.47; P = .004), and possibly history of anterior chamber inflammation (HR 1.90, 95% CI 0.95, 3.84; P = .07). Median gain in acuity and median best corrected visual acuity 1 year after cataract surgery were 4.8 lines and 20/25, respectively, among 42 eyes undergoing cataract surgery with 1-year follow-up data.center dot CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with intermediate, posterior, and panuveitides, treated with oral corticosteroids and immunosuppression, there is a substantial long-term risk of cataract surgery. Visual acuity outcomes after cataract surgery are generally good. (Am J Ophthalmol 2023;254: 210-220.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Automated summary

This study evaluated the rate of cataract surgery, risk factors, and outcomes in patients with intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis treated with systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppression. The results showed a substantial long-term risk of cataract surgery in these patients. Visual acuity outcomes after cataract surgery were generally good.