Long-term Follow-up of Patients receiving Intraocular Pressure-lowering Medications as Cataract Surgery Candidates: A Case-control Study

AIM: In this study, we reviewed demographics and biometric characteristics among patients receiving chronic β-blockers and prostaglandins (PGs) for primary open-angle glaucoma. We compared the age at the time of cataract surgery in different patient groups and in a control group which was not under any medication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of glau-comatous patients who underwent cataract extraction at the Department of Ophthalmology of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, between January 1998 and December 2016 was done. Age at cataract surgery, axial length (AL), and preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were recorded. A cohort of patients without glaucoma who were operated for cataract extraction was also evaluated. RESULTS: In all, 320 patients were reviewed. There were significant results in mean age difference between the beta-antagonist and the PG group [3.05 years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54-4.57] and between the beta-antagonist group with the patients receiving a combined therapy (3.02 years, 95% CI 1.14-4.91). No significant difference was found between the PG and the combination group. All the three treated groups had a significant lower mean age than the control group at the time of cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: Based on our study, we concluded that there might be a possible association between chronic treatment with beta-antagonist agents and earlier cataract surgical time in the treated eye. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Intraocular pressure control is often usually achieved using ophthalmic agents. Their topical and systemic effects should be monitored precisely. Earlier cataract formation might be an important side effect which the physician has to keep in mind before choosing the suitable medication. How to cite this article: Bontzos G, Agiorgiotakis M, Detorakis ET. Long-term Follow-up of Patients receiving Intraocular Pressure-lowering Medications as Cataract Surgery Candidates: A Case-control Study. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(3):107-112.