PHACOEMULSIFICATION

Abstract

Introduction: Objectives: To find out improvement in visual acuity andcomplications in low socioeconomic status patients that underwent phacoemulsification withlow price IOL in a teaching hospital. Study Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Departmentof Ophthalmology Independent University Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: One year from 01-04-2016 to 31-03-2017. Material and Methods: Composed of 100 patients. In this study Inclusioncriteria was poor old aged patients of both gender having grade one to grade three nuclearsclerosis with or without posterior sub capsular cataract. However patients having history ofuncontrolled hypertension or diabetes mellitus, inadequate dilated pupil, subluxated lens orhaving previous history ocular surgery were excluded. Results: In this study 100 eyes withcataract operated by phacoemulsification with low cost rigid IOL under peribulbar anesthesia.The mean age of patients was 67.50 years (range 50-85 years). Male patients in this studywere fifty Two (52%) While 48% were female Patients. Regarding the visual acuity in operatedeyes with or without glasses, 80 eyes (80 %) had visual acuity of 6/6-6/12, visual acuity of 6/18to 6/36 in 12 eyes and 6 eyes (6 %) had a best corrected visual acuity of 6/60 to CF. Whilevisual acuity less than counting finger (CF) was percent in only 2 percent patients. Discussion:Un-operated cataract can induced severe visual impairment or blindness in cataract patients.In a study conducted in Pakistan reported that in about 76% cases of poor socioeconomicstatus most important barrier to cataract surgery was cost of surgery. According to this studydifferent methods that can be adopted to reduce the cost of surgery by improving efficiencyby conducting high volume cataract surgery and bulk purchasing of consumables surgicalitems especially cheaper intraocular lenses thus allowing even the poorest patients to haveophthalmic care. So it was observed that in patients of poor socioeconomic status numbersof barriers are being faced by such community in which cost is frequently mentioned andproviding low cost phaco surgery with good postoperative vision allow to underwent cataractsurgery who would not otherwise have it. Conclusion: In this study it was concluded that indeveloping countries like Pakistan in which majority of population belong to low socioeconomicstatus phacoemulsification with low cost rigid IOL not only yield good post-operative visualacuity but also reduced cataract induced blindness.