AIM: To observe the clinical effect of phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens(IOL)implantation in the treatment of unilateral high myopia combined with age-related cataract.

METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was carried out in a single ophthalmology center. All patients diagnosed of unilateral high myopia with age-related cataract were performed phacoemulsification and posterior chamber IOL implantation. The axial length of operation eye was ≥27mm, and the axial length of unoperated fellow eye was≤25mm. Visual acuity and complications were followed up for 1, 7d, 1, 3mo postoperative.

RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with average age 68.8±9.26(41-87)y were enrolled in this study, 7 cases were men, 26 cases were women. The mean axial length of operation eyes was 29.44±1.80(27.1-32.71)mm and the mean axial length of unoperated fellow eyes was 23.39±0.92(21.72-24.90)mm. The average axial length difference of binocular eyes was 6.06±1.97(2.78-9.92)mm. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)increased from 0.02±0.02(light perception～0.12)preoperatively to 0.20±0.20(0.02-0.8)at 3mo postoperatively. There was statistically significant difference(t=-5.278, P<0.05). Among the 10 patients whose axial length difference of binocular eyes was 2.01-5.00mm, 60% of their postoperative BCVA were >0.3. Among the 13 patients with binocular axial length difference of 5.01-7.00mm,46.2% of BCVA were >0.3,46.2% achieved 0.05-0.25. Another 10 patients of binocular axial length difference between 7.01-9.99mm, 90% of BCVA were <0.3, of which 40% were <0.05. No complications occurred during operative and postoperative.

CONCLUSION:Phacoemulsification and posterior chamber IOL implantation can effectively improve the postoperative visual acuity and it is safe for unilateral high myopic patients combined with age-related cataract. The recovery of visual acuity is related with binocular axial length difference.