Outcome of cataract surgeries in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of cataract surgeries in terms of restoration of visual function in the operated eye in Plateau State, Nigeria. Method: Four centres were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Consecutive patients, who had cataract extraction from 1st October 2002 - 31st March 2003, were recruited. The study instrument was a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Preoperative visual acuity (VA), type of cataract, type of surgery, peri-operative events, postoperative events and physiological outcome were documented. Results: Two hundred and nineteen eyes of two hundred patients were operated. Mean age was 61.08 years. Ninety seven patients (48.5%) and 183 eyes (83.6%) were blind preoperatively. One hundred and fifty six eyes (71.2%) had mature cataract, 28(12.8%) had Morgagnian cataract and 24(10.9%) had hypermature cataract. Intraoperative complications included posterior capsule rupture (14.6%), retained soft lens matter (10%), vitreous loss (8.2%). Early postoperative complications included anterior uveitis (81.2%), striate keratopathy(54.3%), epithelial oedema(23.7%). Late postoperative complications included pigments on Intraocular Lens (IOL) surface (26.1%) and malpositioned IOL (14.3%). Six weeks after surgery, 53.4% and 73.6% of eyes had VA of ≥6/18 with available and best correction respectively. Conclusion: The physiological outcome fell below the World Health Organisation standard; however, the outcome was encouraging as there were no facilities for ocular biometry in all centres. Key Words : Cataract, surgery, outcome, Plateau