Surgery for post-vitrectomy cataract (Review)

Methodological quality of the review: High confidence

Author: Do DV, Gichuhi S, Vedula SS, Hawkins BS

Region: Not applicable

Sector: Cataract surgery

Sub-sector: Safety

Type of cataract: Age-related cataract

Equity focus: None specified

Quantitative synthesis method: Narrative synthesis

Qualitative synthesis method: Not applicable

Background:

Cataract formation or acceleration can occur after intraocular surgery, especially following vitrectomy, a surgical technique for removing the vitreous that is used in the treatment of many disorders that affect the posterior segment of the eye. The underlying problem that led to vitrectomy may limit the benefit from removal of the cataractous lens.

Research objectives:

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of surgery versus no surgery for post-vitrectomy cataract with respect to visual acuity, quality of life, and other outcomes.

Main findings:

Authors did not identify any randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs that had compared surgery versus no surgery to remove the lens from eyes of adults in which cataract had developed following vitrectomy.

Methodology

Authors conducted a search on CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS the metaRegister of controlled trials, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Authors did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches. Authors inclusion criteria consisted of RCTs and quasi-RCTs that had compared surgery versus no surgery to remove the lens from eyes of adults in which cataract had developed following vitrectomy. Two review authors independently screened the search results according to the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.

Applicability/external validity:

Not applicable as no studies were eligible for inclusion in the review.

Geographic focus:

The authors did not restrict the searches to a specific income setting. However, no studies were eligible for inclusion and therefore, authors note that there is no evidence from RCTs or quasi-RCTs on which to base clinical recommendations for surgery for post-vitrectomy cataract.

Quality assessment:

High confidence was attributed in the conclusions of this review. Although no studies were eligible for inclusion in this review, authors conducted a thorough search of the literature. Authors also used appropriate methods to screen studies for inclusion.