Purpose: To evaluate the safety of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in the patients undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel.
Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery with a clear corneal incision under topical anesthesia were eligible for inclusion in the study. Thirty-eight eyes from 38 patients on combined aspirin and clopidogrel therapy who continued the treatment were classified into the maintenance group, a matched group of 38 eyes from 38 patients on no antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy as the control group. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and incidences of complications were compared between the two groups.
Results: There was no significant difference in final BCVA between the maintenance group and the control group (p = 0.178). No significant difference existed in the incidences of hemorrhagic or non-hemorrhagic complications between the two groups (p = 0.529 and p = 0.589, respectively). Moreover, no surgery was postponed or cancelled due to hemorrhagic complications in either group, and no cardiovascular events occurred during the follow-up. There was no case of anterior chamber hemorrhage, vitreous hemorrhage, or suprachoroidal hemorrhage.
Conclusions: Our outcomes indicated that phacoemulsification cataract surgery using a clear corneal incision with topical anesthesia could be safely done without stopping dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel.
Keywords: Aspirin; Cataract surgery; Clopidogrel; Complications; Topical anesthesia.