Cataract surgery in Ibadan, Nigeria: Visual outcome and post-operative refractive error

Authors

  • Oluyemi Fasina Department of Ophthalmology, University College Hospital/University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
  • Izuka A Okwudishu
  • Charles O Bekibele

Keywords:

Cataract extraction, Refractive error, Small incision cataract surgery, Visual acuity

Abstract

Background: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and can be treated by various surgical techniques with good visual outcome.

Objective: To describe the visual outcome and post-operative refractive status among patients who had cataract surgery in a tertiary centre.

Methods: In a retrospective study, the demographic data, type of cataract, surgical procedure and complications, visual outcome and post-operative refractive status of the treated eye were retrieved from the hospital records of all adult patients who had cataract surgery.

Results: Four hundred and sixty eyes of 456 patients (mean age 61.2 ± 17.3 years, Male: Female = 1.1: 1) had cataract surgery during the study period January 2012 and December 2014. The pre-operative visual acuity was < 3/60 in 415 (90.2%) eyes. All the surgeries were performed under local anaesthesia with 331 (72%) eyes undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction while 129 (28%) had small incision cataract surgery. Visual outcome in those who had a minimum of six weeks follow-up revealed unaided visual acuity of ≥ 6/18 in 185 (56.9%) eyes. Following refraction, 237 (72.9%) eyes had acuity of ≥ 6/18. Post-operative spherical refractive error ranged from ­6.75D to +4.50D (mean -1.61 ± 1.41D) while cylindrical error ranged from 0.00DC to 6.00DC (mean 2.33 ± 1.80DC). Pre-existing ocular problems contributing to poor post-operative visual outcome included glaucoma (50; 15.4%), and age-related macular degeneration (10; 3.1%).

Conclusion: Extracapsular cataract extraction gave better visual outcome compared with small incision cataract surgery, but a higher incidence of post-operative cylindrical error was observed.

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Published

2017-06-12

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