Objectives: In this study, we aim to investigate the anterior and posterior segment findings of end-stage renal disease patients who underwent cataract surgery after renal transplantation.
Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation. We included patients who underwent cataract surgery after renal transplantation in our hospital between December 2017 and March 2023. Ocular biometric measurements were evaluated using the ZEISS IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). These measurements included axial length (AL), white-to-white (WTW) distance, anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal keratometry (K1 and K2), degree of astigmatism, and lens thickness (LT). Additionally, retinal thickness was measured and compared with healthy control subjects using optic coherence tomography (Heidelberg Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).
Results: A total of 48 eyes from patients who underwent cataract surgery after renal transplantation and 48 eyes from the control group were enrolled in the study. Among the biometric parameters, K1, K2, and LT were found to be statistically significantly higher in the transplantation group (p<0.001; p<0.001; p=0.002). On the other hand, axial length (AL) and white-to-white (WTW) distance were significantly higher in the control group (p<0.001; p=0.021). Notably, there was a statistically significant difference in retinal thickness in preoperative all parafoveal quadrants (p=0.002; p=0.011; p<0.001;
p=0.002) and inferior and temporal perifoveal quadrant measurements (p=0.012; p=0.059). Postoperatively, the foveal thickness average and all parafoveal quadrants remained significantly different (p<0.001), along with superior and nasal perifoveal quadrant measurements (p=0.045; p=0.004).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest altered anterior and posterior segment parameters in renal transplant patients compared to healthy individuals. These alterations may reflect the impact of renal transplantation on ocular microcirculation and metabolism. As a result, these insights could inform strategies for selecting intraocular lens power during cataract surgery in this patient population. However, to fully understand the long-term implications of these changes, further research with larger sample sizes is necessary.
Additionally, investigating potential associations with specific immunosuppressive medications would provide valuable insights.