Clinical Ophthalmology (Sep 2020)
Predictive Value of Excellent Uncorrected Visual Acuity Post-Operative Day One After Cataract Surgery
Abstract
Jonathan W Young1 ,* Nathan W Law2 ,* Daniel C Tu2,3 1Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Health, Portland, OR, USA; 2Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; 3Operative Care Division, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Daniel C TuCasey Eye Institute, 515 SW Campus Dr, Portland, OR 97239, USATel +1 503-494-3000Fax +1 503-494-9259Email [email protected]: Patients and physicians are often pleased when uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) on post-operative day 1 (POD1) after cataract surgery is 20/20. Unfortunately, this UCVA does not always last. This article aims to investigate the relationship between excellent uncorrected visual acuity on post-operative day 1 and final post-operative UCVA after uncomplicated cataract surgery.Patients and Methods: The medical records of patients who had undergone uncomplicated cataract surgery between 2012 and 2017 were assessed. UCVA on POD1 and final UCVA were obtained for patients who had a final best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better.Results: Of 309 patients with UCVA of 20/20 on POD 1, 62.4% maintained 20/20 and 87.4% maintained 20/25 or better as their final uncorrected visual outcome. Of 204 patients with UCVA of 20/25 on POD 1, 44.1% achieved 20/20 and 69.6% maintained 20/25 or better as their final uncorrected visual outcome. Patients with 20/20 UCVA on POD1 were more likely to have a better final UCVA compared with those who were 20/25 on POD1. Of the 531 patients with UCVA of 20/25 or better on POD1, 20% had final UCVA worse than 20/25 with 4% losing more than 2 lines for their final UCVA.Conclusion: The majority of patients with 20/20 UCVA on POD1 after cataract surgery maintained excellent UCVA as their final visual outcome. However, a significant percentage of these patients experienced a decrease in UCVA over the course of the postoperative period.Keywords: phacoemulsification, cataract, pseudophakia, visual acuity, treatment outcome
