Optimizing Outcome of Cataract Surgery in Resource Scarce Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately accounts for high number of avoidably blind largely caused by cataracts.The blindness burden: Limitation in human and material resource for delivery of cataract surgical services, cost, gender, distance to hospital, time off for the care giver, fear of surgery, uncultured behavior of eye care personal, poor visual outcome, general governments neglect of health care, lack of health insurance for vast majority of the population, healthcare funded by individuals as out of pocket despite grinding poverty, reliance on poorly coordinated and unsustainable outreach program, malpractices of quacks and traditional eye healers amongst other reasons.More than just a cataract: Cataract services require systematic evaluation of the patients' general condition as well as the eye. Appropriate counseling is required to understand the goal and expectation of treatment. Adequate planning of surgery includes ocular biometry and provision of the appropriate intra ocular lens. The management protocol must ensure adequate measures are taken to prevent/ manage critical incidents whenever such a need arises. Conclusion:Cataract surgical services need to be patient centered with the goal of optimizing resources for quality outcome without compromising safety.