Extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation in leprosy and non-leprosy patients: visual outcome and complications

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in leprosy patients. Sight restoration to blind leprosy patients prevents them from injuring their anaesthetic limbs. The visual outcome and complications of extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implant in 42 leprosy and 91 non-leprosy patients were compared. The mean age of the study population was 57.1 years; that of non-leprosy patients was 57.4 years while that of leprosy patients was 56.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1 — in the non-leprosy group, the ratio was 1.2:1 and in the leprosy group it was 1:1.2. The ocular lesions seen before surgery and the complications of surgery were comparable in the two groups of patients. Visual outcome between the two groups was similar — 4.3% of the non-leprosy and 4.8% of the leprosy patients had poor visual outcome. With the introduction of the multidrug therapy, the causes of cataract, complications and short-term visual outcome of extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implant in leprosy and non-leprosy patients are similar.