A comparative study between manual small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification, in the improvement of visual outcome.

Abstract

Background: Cataract extraction is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in patients above 60 years of age. Surgical outcome in terms of visual acuity depends on the surgical technique and Intra ocular lens used.
Aims and Objectives: Our study was aimed to compare the improvement in visual acuity, achieved by Phacoemulsification and by small incision cataract surgery.
Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was done in 100 cataract patients who underwent Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery with rigid PMMA (Group A: n=50) and Phacoemulsification with foldable intra ocular lens implantation (Group B: n=50). Visual acuity and Intraocular pressure in both eyes was assessed.
Results: Visual acuity was improved in both the groups, after the surgical procedure. Uncorrected Visual Acuity of better than 6/18 was seen in 60% in Group A and 72% in Group B; Best Corrected Visual Acuity of more than 6/18 was seen in 94% in Group A and 96% in Group B at the end of 6 weeks after the surgery.
Conclusion: The post operative improvement in visual acuity with small incision cataract surgery and with Phacoemulsification was good. Lower rate of surgically induced astigmatism was found with Phacoemulsification when compared to the Small Incision Cataract Surgery.

Keywords: Astigmatism, Cataract, Intra Ocular Lens (IOL), Phacoemulsification.