AIM: To study the influence factors of early low vision in diabetics after phacoemulsification.

METHODS:Totally 600 eyes which were performed diabetic cataract phacoemulsification combined artificial lens implantation from 2008 to 2011 in our hospital were involved into retrospective analysis, with the best-corrected visual acuity less than 0.3 as the standard. According to the 2002 international clinical classification of diabetic retinopathy(DR), subjects were divided into: group A with 237 eyes(no retinopathy), group B( non-proliferative phase of diabetic retinopathy, NPDR)363 eyes, group B was divided into: the mild NPDR 177 eyes, moderate NPDR 150 eyes, severe NPDR 36 eyes. The related cause factors of low vision were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS:Seven days after the surgery, the best-corrected visual acuity <0.3 were in 41 eyes(17.3%)of group A; 103 eyes(28.4%)of group B. There was no statistical significance between 2 groups(P<0.05). According to epidemiological methods, 5 factors which affected the early postoperative visual were analyzed. Multi-factor logistic regression analysis was used. The results of the 5 factors were given out as following, crystal nucleus hardness(OR=4.065,95% CI: 2.289-7.312); HbA1c(OR=3.781,95% CI:2.256-6.439); DR stage(OR=3.987,95% CI: 2.678-6.894); postoperative corneal edema(OR=1.089, 95% CI:1.017-1.072); age(OR=1.687, 95% CI:1.171-2.416). Then the 4 factors of low vision including crystal nucleus hardness, HbA1c, DR stage and postoperative corneal edema were analyzed using analysis of variance(ANOVA)(P<0.05), and the differences were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Crystal nuclear hardness,glycosylated hemoglobin, DR stage, the corneal edema are the influencing factors of early postoperative low vision of diabetic cataract.