To assess the visual outcomes in patients following with cataract surgery in outreach surgical eye camp in India

Session Details

Session Title: Orbis Free Paper Session

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 11:30-12:45

Paper Time: 12:10

Venue: Room 4

First Author: : L.Tsetim INDIA

Co Author(s): :    P. Jain                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Outreach surgical eye camps still play an important role in addressing to cataract blindness in difficult and mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh which is devoid in eye care services.

Setting:

This study is outcome of many outreach surgical eye camps that Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India performs in interior and difficult areas of the state.

Methods:

In a retrospective study between 2007 to 2010, 10 outreach surgical camps were conducted in which 2720 patients were screened. Total 504 patients had undergone cataract surgeries with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation by small incision cataract surgical technique. Post-operative complications on Day 1 were noted. One month postoperative complications, best corrected visual acuity and refractive errors were assessed.

Results:

Total 504 patients underwent cataract extraction with PCIOL implantation by small incision cataract surgical technique. 99.4% (501) cases were implanted with intraocular lens and 0.6% (3) patients were done without intraocular lens implantation The most common first post-operative day complication was mild iridocyclitis (6.55%) followed by corneal oedema 1.79% and hyphema 0.60%. 93.65%(472 patients) cases turned up for final follow up in 6 weeks. The major post-operative complication after 6 weeks of surgery was posterior capsular opacity. 99.15 % of the eyes had a 4 week-post-operative best corrected visual acuity of 6/6-618. The commonest refractive error after surgery was myopia with against the rule astigmatism, seen in 438 out of 472 cases who turned up for final follow up.

Conclusions:

High quality cataract surgery with a low rate of intra-operative complications and good visual outcome can be attained in outreach surgical camps using appropriate techniques and standardised protocols.

Financial Interest:

NONE