Cataract surgery at Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre Karachi: an audit.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of cataract surgery in terms of visual results, intra and postoperative complications at Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre.

METHODS: The study was carried out at Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre Karachi from May 2005 to December 2007. Surgical results of all outpatients operated for cataract from May 2005 to December 2007 were assessed. The data was collected using the CBM guidelines based on WHO monitoring systems for quality monitoring. Patients having uncomplicated cataract were included. Postoperative follow up was done at discharge, 1 week, 4 weeks and after 12 weeks, visual acuity was recorded as good (6/6-6/18), borderline (6/18-6/60) and poor (< 6/60), intraoperative and postoperative complications were also noted.

RESULTS: During the study period a total of 1457 patients underwent cataract surgery. There were 826 male patients and 631 female patients, their age ranged from 20 to over 80 years. Preoperatively 1023 (70.2%) patients had poor, 362 (24.8%) patients had borderline while only 73 (5%) patients had good visual acuity while at discharge 962 (66%) patients had good, 392 (26.9%) patients had borderline and 104 (7.1%) patients had poor visual acuity. On an average among all the best corrected visual acuity was good in 97.2%, borderline in 2.2% and poor in 0.6% patients at 1 week, 4 weeks and >12 weeks follow up respectively. A large number of patients, 565 (38.7%) did not turn up after discharge for follow up, presumed reasons were: good vision, unable to return because of socioeconomic reasons, ill health and few of the patients expired. Intraoperative complications seen were posterior capsular rent with vitreous loss 70 (4.8%), zonular dehiscence 3 (0.2%), posterior loss of cortical matter 2 (0.1%) and iris prolapse in 4 (0.2%) cases. Immediate postoperative complication was striate keratopathy 157(10.7%), late were chronic anterior uveitis 3 (0.2%), corneal decompensation 2 (0.1%) choroidal and retinal detachment 1 (0.06%) each, Intraocular Lens (IOL) subluxation 4 (0.2%) and Posterior capsular opacification 40 (2.7%).

CONCLUSION: In our study visual outcome achieved was comparable to the standards set by World Health Organization. In complicated cases functional vision can be achieved with timely management.