Cataract Extraction With Intraocular Lens Implant: Early Experience In University Of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (U.N.T.H.), Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria

Objectives: To audit our early experience of cataract surgery with intraocular lens implant, in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (U.N.T.H.), Enugu. Methods: In a retrospective, non-comparative case-series study, the records of all patients who had cataract extraction with intraocular lens implant between January 2001 and October 2002 and were followed up for at least eight weeks were analyzed. Information on age, sex, type of cataract, co-existing ocular and systemic disease, pre- and postoperative visual acuity and postoperative complications was collected. Results: Forty four eyes of 40 patients were studied; mean age of the patients was 52.2 years (range: 8-87 years). Thirty seven eyes had age-related (senile) cataract; 2 post-uveitis cataract and 5 traumatic cataract. Associated systemic diseases were diabetes mellitus (4); hypertension (4); asthma (1); rheumatism (1) and diabetes and hypertension (1). Preoperative visual acuity was Eight weeks post-surgery 14 eyes had no data on presenting (uncorrected) visual acuity while 9 had presenting visual acuity of >/=6/18. With refraction those with visual acuity of >/= 6/18 increased to 14 out of the 18 who had refraction (77.8%). Cause of persistent poor visual acuity was ascertained in only 1 eye and was endophthalmitis. Postoperative complications included corneal oedema/striae (91%); astigmatism (18.2%); poor wound apposition (18.2%) and endophthalmitis (2.3%). Conclusion: The final visual outcome in 77.8% of patients who had refraction post-surgery was good (>/= 6/18.) confirming that Cataract surgery with IOL implant is safe and effective in restoring vision to the cataract blind in this part of the world. Most of the cases of postoperative astigmatism were corrected with refraction. Key Words: cataract extraction; intraocular lens implant Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.15(3&4) 2003: 31-38