Phacoemulsification and Intraocular Lens Implantation in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa Complicated Cataract

Objective: To assess the therapeutic effect of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa complicated cataract.Methods: Thirty-four eyes of twenty-one patients underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation.Visual acuity,visual field,electroretinogram and complications were observed pre-and post-operatively.Results: The best corrected visual acuity0.3 was noted in 31 eyes(91.2%) preoperatively,versus 19 eyes(55.9%) postoperatively(χ2= 9.14,P0.01).The best corrected visual acuity on the third day postoperatively was ≤0.1 in 10 eyes,0.12-0.25 in 9 eyes,0.3-0.5 in 10 eyes,and ≥0.6 in 15 eyes respectively.Visual acuity enhanced in 31 eyes(91.2%),and remained the same in 3 eyes(8.8%) after the surgry.Visual field improved in 6 eyes(17.6%) in the following 6 months,but there was no significant change in electroretinogram.The postoperative complications included corneal endotnelia edema in 3 eyes(8.8%),macular oedema in 1 eye(2.9%),and postoperative capsular opacification in 8 eyes(23.5%).Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was performed in 5 eyes(14.7%) which opacification was serious.Conclusion: Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation surgery could enhance the central vision acuity for most patients with retinitis pigmentosa complicated cataract effectively,and improve their quality of life.