Purpose To analyze the visual acuity (VA) of patients with and without vitreous loss, while concurrently analyzing the effects of the pre-existing pathologies of glaucoma and diabetes on VA. Methods A retrospective study on 1013 cataract extractions from 1995 to 1999 was performed. Patients included in this study had intraocular lens implantation during phacoemulsification surgery, no intraoperative complications besides vitreous loss, had no other prior ophthalmic condition other than glaucoma or diabetes, and had a postoperative follow-up interval between one and 4 months. When indicated, vitrectomy was performed concurrently with phacoemulsification following vitreous loss. Patients diagnosed with both glaucoma and diabetes were excluded. The identified subjects were then placed into six groups: (1) patients with uncomplicated surgery; (2) patients with surgery complicated by vitreous loss; (3) glaucoma patients with uncomplicated surgery; (4) glaucoma patients with surgery complicated by vitreous loss; (5) diabetic patients with uncomplicated surgery; and (6) diabetic patients with surgery complicated by vitreous loss. A two-tailed, heteroscedastic t-test and power calculation were performed on the preoperative and postoperative visual acuities of the groups. Results There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in the postoperative VA between patients with and without vitreous loss at the time of surgery. Patients with the pre-surgical conditions of diabetes or glaucoma did not display a statistically significant difference in postoperative VA when compared to controls. However, the pre-surgical condition of glaucoma displayed a trend, which showed it may contribute to a poorer postoperative VA (P = 0.072, power = 0.430). Conclusions Vitreous loss is a risk factor for a decreased postoperative VA. Also while the pre-surgical condition of glaucoma may play a role in decreasing postoperative VA, diabetes does not.

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