Impaired visual outcome after cataract surgery

Abstract

A prospective, observational study was done among 100 patients aged 50 years and above in BNSB Eye Hospital, Mymensingh, irrespective of gender and profession who had cataract surgery with IOL within one year and attended for follow up in the hospital, in the period from July, 07 to September, 07. It was found that, with quality cataract surgery with IOL, a considerable number of operated patients experienced with impaired vision even after refractive correction. Posterior capsular opacity, pathological changes in optic nerve and macula were found to be responsible for visual impairment. Among the patients, 25% were experienced with dimness of vision (in category of normal vision), 15% were found having low vision and 3% were found blind. In our study, we found dimness of vision complained by 32.26% of 50 to <60 years age group, 36.11% of 60 to <70 years age group and 60.60% of 70 to >70 years age group among the study population. Among the causes of dimness of vision, maculopathy occupies the top of the list (58.14%) followed by optic disc pathology (30.23%) and posterior capsular opacity (11.65%). Proper preoperative evaluation and pre-explained visual outcome of a case of cataract following surgery should be a routine method. It will be able to lower patient's negative psychology to perform cataract surgery and to develop confidence of service providers.