Visual Outcome after Primary IOL Implantation for Traumatic Cataract

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the visual outcome of early cataract extraction with primary IOL implantation for traumatic cataract caused by penetrating injury.

Material and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on all patients with traumatic cataract caused by penetrating injury who underwent early cataract extraction (as surgery carried out within 2 weeks of the injury) with primary IOL implantation at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, Karachi between October 1998 and March 2000. Data was collected on age, gender, preoperative vision, post-operative vision at 3-6 months, and postoperative complications responsible for decreased visual acuity.

Results: Sixty eyes in 60 patients were studied. There were 52 males and 8 females. The preoperative visual acuity was poor (? 6/60) in all 60 eyes. The postoperative visual acuity in 30 eyes was good (6-6/-6/12), whereas 26 eyes had borderline (6/18-6/36) and 4 eyes had poor (? 6/60) visual acuity. The cause of poor visual acuity was mainly corneal opacity and posterior capsular opacity.

Conclusion: Our study shows that good visual results can be achieved in traumatic cataract surgery if the posterior segment is not involved and corneal scar does not block the optical axis.