Further Evidence That Cataract Surgery Is Not Associated With Macular Degeneration Progression

The study by Park et al¹ in JAMA Ophthalmology provides further evidence that cataract surgery is not associated with the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly in an Asian population. Studies regarding a possible association between cataract surgery and AMD have reported conflicting results.² While early studies found an association of cataract surgery with AMD,³ studies using Age-Related Eye Disease Study data have not shown this association.⁴ Importantly, cataract surgery has also been shown not to result in an increased number of required intravitreous injections in those patients actively on treatment for neovascular AMD.⁵