Cataract surgery in cases of age-related macular degeneration

It has been noted for some time that cataract surgery in the presence of retinal comorbidity such as diabetic macular edema may generate a progression of macular changes and result in a poor visual outcome. Recent findings show that adverse events may also occur in the presence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Therefore, when indicating cataract surgery the surgeon needs to consider the risks both for progression of early into late stages of AMD or further deterioration of late manifestations of AMD. Furthermore, in the presence of advanced atrophic or neovascular AMD the question arises whether or not the patient may benefit from cataract surgery in spite of an already existing central visual loss. Here we critically review results from recent studies.