Small Incision Cataract Surgery Refractive Outcome in Menelik II teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the refractive outcome of manual small incision cataract surgery at Menelik II Referral Hospital.

Methods: This hospital-based longitudinal study involved participants after cataract surgery with follow-up at 4-6 weeks in the Department of Ophthalmology, Menelik II Hospital, Addis Ababa University. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, and biometry profiles were collected. Refractive outcomes were measured based on postoperative refraction. SPSS was used for data analysis.

Results: There were 385 study participants, the median age was 65 years, and 60% were female. Eighty-one percent of the surgeries utilized straight scleral incisions, and the most common intraoperative complication was posterior capsular tear in 7.5% (n=29). Postoperatively 284 (73.8%) achieved best-corrected visual acuity better than 6/18, and 205 (53.2%) achieved target refraction within ±1.0 D. The surgically induced astigmatism for the operated eyes was found to be 0.75 D ± 1.38 D. Surgically induced astigmatism significantly affects refractive outcome. (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56 - 0.88, p = 0.002), and small scleral incision (<8 mm) favors better refractive outcome (OR = 11.85, 95% CI: 5.44 – 25.77, p = <0.001).

Conclusion: Small incision cataract surgery results an optimal refractive outcome. Surgically induced astigmatism affects the target refractive outcome.

Key words: Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery, refractive outcomes, surgically induced astigmatism, visual outcome, biometry.