Cataract surgery yields long-term benefits for individuals with diabetes

In people with diabetes, cataract surgery helps preserve both objective and subjective measures of visual function for up to 20 years, according to a study.

The study included 109 participants with type 2 diabetes and 698 participants with no diabetes, all of whom underwent cataract surgery. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual function (VF-questionnaire, VF-14) were assessed prior to and after the surgery and then every 5 years up to 20 years thereafter. In addition, retinopathy was graded before the surgery.

The changes in BVCA from baseline were similar between the diabetes and no-diabetes groups at 10 years (p=0.45), 15 years (p=0.44), and 20 years (p=0.83). The same was true for self-perceived visual function (VF-14) at any time after surgery (10 years: p=0.72; 15 years: p=0.20; 20 years: p=0.78).

BCVA in relation to retinopathy level before surgery did not significantly differ between the diabetes and no-diabetes groups at any time throughout the follow-up (20 years: p=0.1).

Participants in the diabetes group who had no retinopathy at baseline showed a trend toward losing fewer letters during the 20 years compared with their peers who had retinopathy.

Meanwhile, compared with participants with no diabetes, those who had type 2 diabetes at surgery had a significantly lower survival at each follow-up (p=0.003).

These findings suggest that cataract extraction is effective in inducing a sustainable improvement in visual function also in people with type 2 diabetes. Data on long-term outcomes is essential when counselling this population for cataract surgery.