Outcome of Cataract Surgery in Lafia

Abstract

Purpose: To report on the outcome of cataract surgery and compare the two main techniques of cataract extraction employed at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia between March 2008 and February 2009.
Methodology: Retrospective study
Results: Two hundred and twenty six eyes of 212 patients were reviewed. Mean age of the patients was 66.2yrs (range 22-88yrs). One hundred and twelve were males (53%) while 100 were females (47%). Ninety six eyes had extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation and 130 eyes had manual small incision cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better was achieved in 49% of all eyes, in 46% of eyes that had extracapsular cataract extraction and in 51% of eyes that had manual small incision cataract surgery. Posterior capsule rupture was the commonest intraoperative complication while corneal oedema was the commonest postoperative complication for both surgical modalities.
Conclusion: Manual small incision cataract surgery gave a slightly higher proportion of eyes with a good outcome after correction. Routine monitoring of visual outcome of cataract surgery as well as provision of biometry equipment by the hospital is recommended. These will help in achieving better visual outcomes in the center.

Key Words: Extracapsular cataract extraction, manual small incision cataract surgery, posterior chamber intraocular lens