CATARACT;

Among all ophthalmic diseases, cataract is the most commonest disorder not only in Pakistan but alsoworldwide. There are a number of causes for cataract development. Purpose: The present study was carried out to evaluate the density ofcataract and its relation with axial length of the eye. Study design: In this observational study, the patients with cataract in both eyes wereselected by simple random technique. Period: From June to December 2012. Place: This study was conducted in Diagnostic andResearch Centre, Department of Ophthalmology, Allied Hospital, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Subjects and settings: In presentstudy 200 eyes of 100 patients were included having cataract in both eyes. Only those patients were selected who had no pathology otherthan cataract affecting visual acuity. The density of the cataract was assessed by measuring visual acuity. The axial lengths of both eyeswere measured at the time of examination to see the relation between the axial length and density of cataract. Results: The comparison ofthe two eyes regarding the evaluation of the density of cataract and its relation with axial length was performed. Out of 100 patients 74(74%) had a denser cataract or lesser visual acuity in the eye with a longer axial length (DCLAL) and 26 (26%) had a denser cataract or alesser visual acuity in the eye with shorter axial length (DCSAL). On right side the axial length was 24.84±1.73 and on left side, it was21.62±1.63. Our results showed that on right side, the visual acuity was 0.19±0.09 and on left side, it was 0.23±0.08. The axial lengthand visual acuity were statistically analyzed. The correlation was significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).The correlation coefficient was -0.04 on right side and on left, it was -0.12 showing inverse correlation between the two variables. Conclusions: There is a strongcorrelation between density of cataract and the axial length of the eyeball.