[Clinical observation of phacoemulsification and lens implantation in patients with diabetes mellilus].

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical results of phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation in diabetic patients.

METHODS

Thirty-six eyes of 36 consecutive patients with diabetic cataract who had cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation were prospectively followed up. The outcomes were compared with 36 eyes of 36 senile cataract patients with the same surgery.

RESULTS

The complications of anterior segments of diabetic cataract, such as corneal edema, anterior chamber flare and fibrinous exubates, iris posterior synechiae, and posterior capsule opaque, were significant higher than those of senile cataract at early stage after surgery. There was no significant difference for the last results between two groups by treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation seem to have no influence on the prognosis of diabetic cataract when fasting venous plasma glucose was controlled under 8.33 mmol/L. Reducing movement of instruments in the anterior chamber and damage to endothelium and iris could effectively reduce the rate of complication. Intensive topical steroid and suitable dilating eye drops were effective therapeutic methods for the complications.