Improved glycemic control and cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus Type II following cataract phacoemulsification surgery

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the glycemic control and cardiovascular risk (CV risk) change in diabetes mellitus type II (DM-II) patients undergoing uncomplicated bilateral cataract phacoemulsification surgery. Design: Retrospective study. Participants: We selected 28 patients who underwent uncomplicated bilateral cataract surgery at Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga between January 2018 and December 2019. Inclusion Criteria: We included patients submitted to bilateral cataract surgery without other known ophthalmological pathology. Furthermore, there were available records of their comorbidities, lipid profile, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and body max index (BMI) prior to and in the 6 months following surgery. Materials and Methods: We assessed our patient cohort for changes in HbA1c, lipid profile, BMI, and blood pressure before and after surgery. We further subdivided our patient cohort into two different groups: group 1 – no to mild visual impairment, ≤0.48 logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR); Group 2 – moderate to severe visual impairment, >0.48 LogMAR, and assessed for the same variables at the mentioned time points. Comparisons were done using paired samples Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank and repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc tests, respectively. Results: Following cataract surgery and subsequent improved visual acuity (VA), our patient cohort showed decreased HbA1c, lower arterial blood pressure, and decreased BMI, with an improved CV risk score within 6 months of cataract surgery. These improvements were more evident in the patients with worse baseline VA. Conclusions: Phacoemulsification cataract surgery resulted in improved CV risk and glycemic control in DM-II patients.

Keywords

• cardiovascular-risk
• cataracts
• diabetes mellitus type ii