Coexisting Cataract Koray Gumus, Cynthia I Tung, Zaina Al-Mohtaseb
INTRODUCTION and in intraocular lenses, cataract surgery has become more
sophisticated in that it approaches the precision of refractive Pterygium is one of the most common ocular surface diseases in surgery. In addition, patient expectations have risen as they the elderly. Its prevalence has been noted to be higher in certain expect a perfect refractive result after cataract surgery. This is populations such as outdoor workers who have significant sun the reason that the timing and the refractive outcomes of exposure, but its exact pathogenesis and underlying causes are pterygium surgery have attracted more attention in the last few not completely understood. years. Pterygium is characterized by a triangular or wing-shaped fibrovascular connective tissue overgrowth of bulbar THE IMPACT OF PTERYGIUM conjunctiva that grows onto the corneal surface. While most pterygia are asymptomatic and cause no more than cosmetic ON VISUAL PARAMETERS concerns, some may lead to refractive changes and serious Pterygia do not only lead to visual impairment by invading the visual disturbances. This will be discussed later in this chapter. visual axis or distorting the central topography, but they also The coexistence of pterygium and cataract (Fig. 20.1), induce focal corneal flattening, severe astigmatism, and particularly in older adults, is an important challenge for deterioration of corneal aberrations. clinicians, because of the ongoing debate regarding the “ideal” While surgical excision can improve pterygium-induced timing and technique of pterygium surgery. With recent refractive errors and topographical changes, corneal distortion technological advances both in surgical techniques may be more difficult to reverse completely, particularly in cases of large pterygia. One of our studies has recently proven that corneal aberrations continue to change beyond the early postoperative period, even up to one year. Therefore, any refractive procedures may be postponed until at least one year after the pterygium surgery. Thus, this finding is clinically important in the timing of pterygium excision and subsequent cataract surgery, in eyes with coexisting cataract.
In the management of comorbid pterygium and cataract,
detailed slit-lamp examination, corneal topography, and repeated IOL power calculations are necessary to determine the proper course of treatment. The size of the pterygium, its location, its contribution to distortions in keratometry (K) readings, and worsening in corneal aberrations are primary factors for determining the course of treatment (Figs 20.2A and B). For small pterygia, simultaneous surgery may not affect refractive outcome, so small lesions may not need to be Fig. 20.1 Anterior segment photograph shows the coexistence of considered in preoperative work up. Kim et al. showed that the cataract with pterygium in a 65-year-old patient. A large inflamed mean corneal power did not change significantly after surgery in pterygium that is beginning to obstruct the pupil should be treated patients with pterygia smaller than 2 mm. Thus, in these eyes, first with an appropriate anti-inflammatory agent prior to excision. In cataract surgery can be performed first and pterygium excision such cases with a larger pterygium, cataract surgery should be can be planned later for symptomatic improvement or cosmetic performed at least one month after the pterygium surgery purposes. However, if the pterygium is large and Chapter 20: Management of Pterygium with Coexisting Cataract 113
effective for the patient, particularly in the Indian subcontinent
where the incidences of pterygium and senile cataract are higher than elsewhere. One recent study investigated the predictability of intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation after simultaneous pterygium excision and phacoemulsification with IOL implantation. The authors concluded that simultaneous pterygium and cataract surgery was safe and effective, and the accuracy was moderately predictable. However, they also warned readers about a significant myopic shift that might occur postoperatively, possibly resulting from the steepening of the cornea after pterygium removal, especially when the size of the pterygium was large. Although the possibility of adverse effects on corneal wound healing and increase in postoperative complications may be low, it definitely should still be considered. In one study A wherein thirty patients with pterygium and cataract were treated with simultaneous pterygium excision and cataract extraction, the authors concluded that the combined procedure did not interfere with the healing of the cataract incision. In that study, the patients underwent pterygium excision first and were treated intraoperatively with 500 rads of beta radiation over the pterygium site, immediately followed by cataract extraction. The necessity of immediate use of topical steroid on postoperative day 1 to prevent intraocular inflammation might lead to a delay of corneal wound healing, particularly if it is near the site of pterygium excision. Delay in wound healing can be addressed by use of bandage contact lenses and/or new therapeutic agents that promote corneal wound healing, such as topical regenerating agents (RGTA), coenzyme Q eye drops, and new generation artificial tears. The severity of pterygium-induced astigmatism and also the B type of IOL selected are important factors that require careful attention during simultaneous surgery for pterygium and Figs 20.2A and B Anterior segment photographs show different cataract. Since it is impossible to tell how much astigmatism is sizes of pterygia with corresponding root mean square (RMS) pre-existing versus induced by the pterygium, clinicians should values of corneal aberrations. It is certainly clear that the larger avoid any intraoperative astigmatic correction such as corneal- pterygium is associated with significantly increased corneal relaxing incisions or implantation of toric IOLs. In these cases, aberrations compared to the small pterygium standard monofocal IOLs are preferred. Some considerations in surgical technique should be addressed carefully. The incisions should be water-tight to avoid induces clinically significant astigmatism or causes distortion in any possible wound leak. There should be a low threshold to K readings, it may be best to perform pterygium excision first to place a suture, particularly in cases where antimetabolites such avoid an undesired refractive outcome after cataract surgery. In as mitomycin C(MMC) are used. In recurrent pterygia, deciding other words, pterygia that interfere with K readings should be the locations of side ports can be challenging because the excised as a separate procedure before proceeding with cataract corneal stroma may be thin at the site of pterygium excision. In surgery. these cases, using a temporal clear cornea approach for cataract surgery may be a preferred approach. SIMULTANEoUS PTERYGIUM AND CATARACT SURGERY TIMING OF the CATARACT In clinical practice, while some clinicians prefer simultaneous SURGERY: BEFORE OR AFTER pterygium excision and cataract extraction, others prefer to THE PTERYGIUM EXCISION perform these two surgeries separately. There are some pros and cons of simultaneous surgery. Performing these two procedures at once can save time and energy for the surgeon and is cost-