Effects of lutein on the macular and visual function after cataract surgery in the elderly

Objective To explore the effects of lutein on the macular and visual function after cataract surgery in the elderly. Methods Total of 80 patients with senile cataract including 52 males and 28 females with an average age of 55-75 years old were selected and randomly divided into group A(experiment group, n=40, postoperatively treated with lutein, 12 mg/d, once a day for 3 months) and group B (control group, n=40, postoperatively treated with starch as placebo, 12 mg/d, once a day for 3 months). All the patients underwent phacoemulsification plus intraocular lens implantation before the experiment. At T0 (before experiment), T1 (1 month after experiment), T2 (3 months), T3 (6 months) and T4 (12 months), the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual function index (VF value) and macular pigment density values (MPOD) were collected. Results The BCVA, VF value and MPOD In group A at T1-T4 were respectively higher than those in group BBCVA (T1:0.93±0.21 vs 0.84±0.19; T2:0.93±0.20 vs 0.83±0.20; T3:0.92±0.17 vs 0.80±0.18; T4:0.87±0.21 vs 0.76±0.22)(P< 0.05, respectively). VF value (T1:88.0±3.19 vs 85.9±14.09; T2:86.1±2.55 vs 82.9±4.24; T3:83.1±3.11 vs 79.2±4.93; T4:79.9±4.37 vs 75.3±15.73) (P< 0.05, respectiely). MPOD (T1:0.578±0.086 vs O.535±0.097; T2:0.591±0.089 vs 0.520±0.088; T3:0.585±0.091 vs 0.508±0.084; T4:0.574±0.074 vs 0.486±0.070)(P< 0.05, respectively). No significant difference was deceted between the two groups in early postoperative complications. Conclusion Prophylactic usage with lutein after cataract surgery may improve the macular and visual function of elderly.