Frequency and distribution of ophthalmic surgical procedures among patients with inherited retinal diseases

Ophthalmol Retina. 2024 Mar 12:S2468-6530(24)00109-X. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2024.03.005. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective or purpose: In this study, we aimed to characterize the frequency and distribution of ocular surgeries in patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and evaluate associated patient and disease factors.

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Participants: Subjects 18 years and older who were followed at the Johns Hopkins Genetic Eye Disease (GEDi) Center.

Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of patients with an IRD diagnosis to analyze the occurrence of laser and incisional surgeries. Subjects were categorized into two groups: central dysfunction (macular/cone/cone-rod dystrophy, "MCCRD group") and panretinal or peripheral dysfunction (retinitis pigmentosa-like, "RP group"). Genetic testing status was recorded. The association of patient and disease factors on the frequency, distribution, and timing of surgeries was analyzed.

Main outcome measure: Prevalence, prevalence odds ratio (POR), hazard ratio (HR) of ophthalmic procedures by phenotype.

Results: A total of 1472 eyes of 736 subjects were evaluated. Among them, 31.3% (n = 230) had undergone ocular surgery, and 78.3% of those (n=180/230) had a history of more than one surgery. A total of 602 surgical procedures were analyzed. Cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation (CEIOL) was the most common (51.2%), followed by YAG capsulotomy, refractive surgery, retinal surgery, and others. CEIOL occurred more frequently in RP than in MCCRD subjects (POR 2.59, p = 0.002). RP subjects underwent CEIOL at a younger age than MCCRD patients (HR = 2.11, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Approximately one-third of IRD patients had a history of laser or incisional surgery. CEIOL was the most common surgery; its frequency and timing may be associated with IRD phenotype. This data may inform the design of prospective research. Such efforts may illuminate routine clinical decision-making and contribute to surgical strategy development for cell and gene therapy delivery.