BACKGROUND: an effective method for cataract surgery should be identified to combat cataract blindness. AIM: to study the surgical outcome of conventional extracapsular cataract extraction versus manual small-incision cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a randomized clinical trial was carried out including one hundred eyes (88 patients) which were divided into two groups using systematic randomization: groups of conventional extracapsular cataract extractionwith posterior chamber intraocular lens (ECCE with PCIOL) implantation and manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS). The postoperative parameters/variables studied were the unaided and best-corrected visual acuity and astigmatism. STATISTICS: epi info 2000 version statistical software was used for data analysis and calculation of relative risk, 95% CI and p value. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: in the immediate postoperative period, unaided visual acuity of =or>; 6/18 was achieved in 24 subjects in MSICS group versus 7 in ECCE with PCIOL group (RR=2.05, 95% CI= 1.44 - 2.94, p = 0.0002), whereas the same at 6 - 8 weeks postoperatively was found in 28 and 22 subjects in those groups respectively (RR=1l.27, 95% CI=0.86-1.89, p=0.23). The astigmatism of =or> 2 at6 - 8 weeks was found in 35 and 17 subjects from the conventional and MSICS groups respectively ( R=2.28, 95% CI= 1.39-3.73, p=0.0002). CONCLUSION: both MSICS and conventional ECCE with PCIOL are safe and effective techniques for treatment of cataract patients. A more rapid recovery of good vision can be achieved with MSICS than with conventional ECCE with PCIOL in the immediate postoperative period.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: an effective method for cataract surgery should be identified to combat cataract blindness. AIM: to study the surgical outcome of conventional extracapsular cataract extraction versus manual small-incision cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a randomized clinical trial was carried out including one hundred eyes (88 patients) which were divided into two groups using systematic randomization: groups of conventional extracapsular cataract extractionwith posterior chamber intraocular lens (ECCE with PCIOL) implantation and manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS). The postoperative parameters/variables studied were the unaided and best-corrected visual acuity and astigmatism. STATISTICS: epi info 2000 version statistical software was used for data analysis and calculation of relative risk, 95% CI and p value. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: in the immediate postoperative period, unaided visual acuity of =or> 6/18 was achieved in 24 subjects in MSICS group versus 7 in ECCE with PCIOL group (RR=2.05, 95% CI= 1.44 - 2.94, p = 0.0002), whereas the same at 6 - 8 weeks postoperatively was found in 28 and 22 subjects in those groups respectively (RR=1l.27, 95% CI=0.86-1.89, p=0.23). The astigmatism of =or> 2 at6 - 8 weeks was found in 35 and 17 subjects from the conventional and MSICS groups respectively ( R=2.28, 95% CI= 1.39-3.73, p=0.0002). CONCLUSION: both MSICS and conventional ECCE with PCIOL are safe and effective techniques for treatment of cataractpatients. A more rapid recovery of good vision can be achieved with MSICS than with conventional ECCE with PCIOL in the immediate postoperative period.