Evaluation of Visual Outcome of Cataract Surgery in Eye Camps

Abstract

BACKGROUND According to various surveys, cataract is the most common cause of blindness in India. India has the world's largest cataract backlog. The treatment for cataract is surgical, a highly cost-effective intervention with excellent prognosis for sight restoration. In a country like India where majority of the population resides in rural areas, community-oriented approach including the base hospital surgery and peripheral eye camp approach can be effectively utilised to tackle the backlog of cataract blindness. The aim of the study is to evaluate the outcome of cataract surgery performed in outreach eye camps in northern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and surgical complications were evaluated retrospectively in 1486 patients who underwent cataract extraction in eye camps held in northern India over a period of one year. RESULTS Of 1486 patients, 827 (55.6%) patients were operated in the peripheral surgical camp and 659 (44.3%) were brought to the base hospital for surgery. At follow up, 65.3% patient had BCVA better than 6/18 in the operated eye compared to 0.5% preoperatively and the difference was significant (p<0.0001). 93.3% of the patients operated by phacoemulsification and 91.2% of the patients who underwent manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) had regained visual acuity of 6/18 or better at 6 weeks follow up. Most common complication was corneal oedema seen in 3.3% patients. CONCLUSION It's possible to obtain acceptable results from cataract extraction in well conducted eye camps.