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Abstract

Age-related cataracts are a worldwide cause of blindness in 10.8 million of people and 35.1 million were visually impaired in 2010, it means that cataract caused 33.4% of blindness and 18.5% of moderate to severe vision impairment [1]. Cataract prevalence increase as people age, by age 75, half of population have a cataract; by age 80, 70% of whites, 53% of Africans and 61% of Hispanics [1,2]. Cataract surgery is a successful procedure in the majority of cases (about 95%) [2]. Although, it is not free of complications, because of the surgical procedure itself or due to coexisting ocular pathology; for example, the global incidence of post surgical cystoid macular edema is about 1.17%, but it is 4-fold increase in eyes with diabetic retinopathy, 5.6-fold in epiretinal membrane and 30-fold in retinal Age related-Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an acquired condition of the retina that causes significant central visual impairment and legal blindness in elderly people [4,5]. In the United States, the prevalence of AMD for people older than 40 years is estimated at 9.2%, then it increases exponentially, reaching 22.8% after 75 years old [6,7]. Recently (2016) an incidence study selected by ethnicity in a population based in the United States was published, finding an overall incidence of 4.1% in Early AMD and 2.3% in late AMD, the white population is the most affected population by 5.3% and 4.1% respectively [3].Thus, cataract and AMD are both age-related conditions that share similar comorbidities (hereditary, cardiovascular risk, free radicals, tobacco, sun exposition, etc.) [5,[8][9][10][11][12]. It is difficult to demonstrate a correlation between cataract surgery and AMD progression or deterioration because of this close relationship. Also, cataract development itself could preclude visualization of posterior pole and prevent a correct diagnosis of AMD [13][14][15][16]. Despite this, concern still exists in ophthalmologists about the behavior of the AMD or the choroidal neovascularization in a patient undergoing cataract surgery.The possible relationship of AMD and cataract surgery was reviewed and discussed. A very extensive searching was made; we analyzed randomized and non-randomized control trials, prospective and clinical trials. We discuss separately each type of AMD following AREDS classification. Likewise, we have intended to extract some recommendations to follow in this complicated scenario according recently clinical evidence. Early-Intermediate AMD and Cataract SurgeryThere are at least four main studies concerning cataract surgery and AMD development, the Beaver Dam Study (BDS), Blue Mountains eye Study (BMS), Rotterdam Eye Study, Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALOS). They evaluated the incidence of early manifestations of AMD in patients without signs of AMD at baseline who were submitted to cataract surgery and they did not find a relationship with early AMD.However, there are numerous publications found a possible relationship and they have suggested mechanisms that could lead to progression in AMD ...