Phacoemulsification Surgery in Patients with Vogt- Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cataract surgery with phacoemulsification technique in patients with VogtKoyanagi-Harada syndrome in Saudi Arabia, at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital and Maghraby Eye Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A retrospective analysis of the records of patients diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome that underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsification technique between March 2002 and September 2007 was carried out. Phacoemulsification surgery was performed in 13 eyes of 7 patients. 6 patients needed bilateral surgery. There were 3 males and 4 females. One patient was left aphakic in both eyes. In the remaining 11 eyes Acrysof foldable intraocular lens was implanted in the bag. The mean age of presentation was 39.57 ± 6.55 years. The patients were followed up for 8.33 ± 3.7 months. Mean improvement of visual acuity was 6.69 ± 2.46 lines. All patients were monitored closely. The time taken for the quieting of anterior chamber was 4.23 ± 1.92 weeks. Two patients developed significant posterior capsular opacity which needed Neodymium-YAG capsulotomy. There were no other complications. The cataract surgery with phaco-emulsification technique was safe and effective in the patients of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, provided they were managed effectively during and after surgery.