To investigate the safeness of cataract surgery in older subjects by comparing the outcomes among different age groups.

The present study included 150 patients (150 eyes) diagnosed with cataracts that visited the hospital from January 2014 to May 2015 and received phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. The subjects were divided into 5 age groups (40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80 and 80-90). Among the study subjects, 30 patients from each age group were measured for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and endothelial cell density (ECD) 2 months after surgery. Intraoperative ultrasound time, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) and volume of balanced salt solution were also compared among the subjects.

The nuclear sclerosis of cataracts before surgery was significantly lower in the 40-50 (2.85 ± 1.05), 50-60 (3.20 ± 0.81), and 60-70 age groups (3.39 ± 0.67) than the 70-80 (4.23 ± 0.68) and 80-90 age groups (4.47 ± 0.51). The CDE during surgery was significantly lower in the 40-50 (10.10 ± 3.20), 50-60 (11.20 ± 3.20) and 60-70 age groups (12.40 ± 3.50) than in the 70-80 (15.10 ± 3.80) and 80-90 age groups (16.70 ± 3.90; p < 0.05). BCVA was not significantly different among the age groups 2 months after surgery ( p > 0.05). The reduction (%) of ECD 2 months after surgery was significantly lower in the 40-50 (17.94 ± 13.50), 50-60 (17.46 ± 9.08) and 60-70 age groups (19.12 ± 16.01) than in the 70-80 (26.36 ± 10.82) and 80-90 age groups (31.80 ± 16.86; p < 0.05).

After cataract surgery, BCVA was not significantly different among the age groups. These findings indicate that cataract surgery using phacoemulsification in older patients is recommended and a viable option since it is relatively safe and provides excellent BCVA effects.