Assessment of the effect of Posterior Sub-capsular cataract on the refractive status of the eye at the outpatient department of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract-induced refractive change is the refraction change caused by a cataract. It can reach multiple diopters (D). It modifies expected refraction errors during cataract surgery by modifying axial length measurement.
 Objective: To find the effect of the Posterior subcapsular Cataracts on the refractive status of the eye.
 Methodology: A cross-sectional study was progressed in Eye OPD in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. 102 patients having Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts were part of this study. The anterior segment was examined with a slit lamp for evaluation of the posterior subcapsular cataract. The refractive status of an eye having a posterior subcapsular cataract was determined using Retinoscopy and subjective refraction techniques. The axial length of the eye was measured using A-Scan. Keratometric reading was measured using Keratometer.
 Results: A total of 102 patients were included in this study. Of these, 27 were males and 75 were females. The mean age was 60.5 years with 5.8SD. Results from the study showed refractive error due to Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts were mainly myopic astigmatism and spherical myopia with 0.16SD. Patients with PSCs had myopic astigmatism with a mean value of (1.7diopters, 15.7%) with 0.93SD and spherical myopia with a mean value of (0.1D, 2.9%) with 0.67SD. 
 Conclusion: The most common refractive error found in PSCs was Astigmatism followed by Myopia. These results may help to clarify the types of refractive errors in patients with PSCs and the prediction of visual outcomes with spectacles.