Factors affecting the visual outcome of paediatric cataract surgery: A hospital based prospective study in tertiary eye care

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the various factors affecting the visual outcome of paediatric cataract surgery. Paediatric cataract is a huge problem of the world specially for developing and poor countries. Without treatment cataract can damage connection between brain and eye. So importance of early diagnosis and treatment can prevent permanent vision loss in children.Cataract in children can appear in variety of forms, each presenting in differencing in different way depending on the time. Sometime cataract associated with other ocular disease like coloboma, nystagmus, microphthalmos. These conditions are associated with poor prognosis. So proper visual rehabilitation of neuro- ophthalmic axis is crucial for good visual prognosis. All patients from 2 - 14 years of age who underwent cataract surgery in Department of Ophthalmology at BRLSABVMM College Rajnandgaon during 1- year period were included in the study. Detail history of patient, preoperative examination, ocular and systemic co-morbidity, intraoperative complications and post-operative outcome were documented and analysed. 25 patients underwent cataract surgery during this period.16 were male (64%) and 9 females (36%). Most common presenting symptom is diminution of vision in some cases nystagmus and strabismus also present. In some patient there is history of trauma also present. There was significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity following surgery in approx. 70% of patients. Visual axis opacification is most common complication after that fibrin reaction is other complication.: Improvement in vision in post operative paediatric cataract surgery due to early detection by parents and raise awareness by health workers of rural and urban area. Good visual outcome is depended on good infrastructure for operation theatre, advance microscope with instrument, advance cataract surgery with posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy, post-operative management and visual rehabilitation.