Visual outcome in patients operated for traumatic cataract: A prospective hospital based study

Abstract

Background: Ocular trauma is the commonest cause of uniocular cataract in young individuals. Aim of this study was to quantify the visual outcome in terms of visual acuity after removal of traumatic cataract and implantation of an IOL. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was done in department of ophthalmology at a tertiary care teaching hospital of Andhra Pradesh. The Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System was used to classify ocular trauma. All patients underwent for detailed clinical history and ocular examinations including visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy, direct/indirect ophthalmoscopy and a B-Scan ultrasonography etc. Patients were followed up for 3 months postoperatively. The data was analyzed using suitable statistical tests. Results: Out of total 65 patients, 77% patients were males and 30.7% were less than 20 years of age. 66.2% patients sustained penetrating trauma while 33.8% got blunt injury. 9.2% cases had some degree of vision (6/30 to 6/120). After three months of surgery, 76.9% patients had visual acuity of >6/18. The difference in visual outcome at 3rd month evaluation between blunt and penetrating ocular injury was statistically insignificant (p=0.813). The younger age was significantly associated with better visual acuity (p=0.016). Patients receiving foldable IOL showed statistically better result (p=0.0231) as compared to rigid IOL. Conclusion: Traumatic cataract occurs mostly in young, active males who are mostly illiterate. IOL is the treatment of choice. Younger age of the patient, early surgery, implantation of foldable lens in intact capsular bag are favorable factors for achieving good visual acuity (>6/18).

Visual Outcomes of Traumatic Lens Dislocations and Subluxations Managed by Pars Plana Vitrectomy and Lensectomy

“…This finding suggests the lack of education regarding the protection against eye trauma, regardless of age. Also, greater attention should be paid to educating the population regarding the importance of emergency presentation to the ophthalmologist in the case of eye trauma; thus, the rate of ocular complications and the morbidity associated with eye trauma are reduced, in parallel with increasing the chances of preserving useful vision [19].…”