Post operative visual outcomes after cataract surgery in a teaching hospital

An uneventful cataract surgery with intraocular lens implant is capable of providing normalvision. Good visual outcome increases patient’s satisfaction and quality of life. Aim is to evaluate thepostoperative complications and visual outcomes after manual small incision cataract surgery at a teachinghospital.Materials and Methods: In this study 100 patients who underwent uneventful SICS with PCIOL implantwere followed up. Patients having pre-existing ocular disease were excluded. IOL power was accuratelyestimated. Visual acuity, anterior segment and fundus findings were recorded at each postoperative visitupto 6 weeks and in some cases upto 3months. We followed the visual outcome standards set by WHO.Results: 53 males and 47 females in the age group of 45 to 75 and above were selected. On 1st postoperative day 38% patients had quiet eyes. In 62% patients, decreased vision and complications observedon 1st post operative day and upto 1st week were: Striate keratopathy and corneal edema, anterior uveitiswith pupillary membrane, residual lens matter, macular edema, endophthalmitis, intraocular hemorrhagewith secondary glaucoma and IOL related causes. On the 6th postoperative week during spectaclesprescription, 60% had uncorrected Astigmatism, 5% consecutive myopia/ hypermetropia and 8% hadposterior capsular opacity. At 3 months follow up, 92% had good outcome, 3% patients had borderlineoutcome. 5% poor visual outcome was seen in patients with Bullous keratopathy, endophthalmitis, vitreoushemorrhage and longstanding macular edema.Conclusion: Our hospital based study reports 5% patients with poor visual outcome 3 months afteruneventful cataract surgery.Keywords: Astigmatism, Complications, Small incision cataract surgery, Uneventful, Visual outcome.