Effects of cataract surgery in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Purpose To investigate the effects of cataract surgery in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods The primary endpoint in this prospective, observational study was patient satisfaction at 6 months after cataract surgery in patients with nAMD. Secondary endpoints comprised changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), M-chart score, central retinal thickness (CRT), AMD status, and number of AMD treatments. All examinations were performed before surgery, and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Results Fifty patients (52 eyes) were included in this study (32 men; mean age, 76.1 +/- 7.1 years). Thirty-nine patients (75.0%) reported satisfaction with cataract surgery. BCVA significantly improved at all postoperative timepoints (all p < 0.0001), whereas differences in M-chart scores were not statistically significant. The number of eyes with BCVA <= 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) increased from 21 to 38; however, CRT did not change. The number of AMD treatments did not change during follow-up. All questionnaire scores showed postoperative improvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that final BCVA <= 0.3 logMAR was significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Conclusion Cataract surgery significantly improved vision in Japanese patients with nAMD, without affecting AMD status. Patients were satisfied with cataract surgery, especially with respect to improvement of distance vision.