Cataract surgery in camp patients: a study on visual outcomes.

AIM: To assess the complications and visual outcomes associated with cataract surgery in camp patients operated at a tertiary centre.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, 206 outreach camp patients had undergone cataract surgeries with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation under peribulbar anesthesia over a period of 6 months. Post-operative complications on Day 1 were graded as per Oxford Cataract Treatment and Evaluation Team (OCTET) definitions. One month postoperative complications, best corrected visual acuity and refractive errors were assessed.
RESULTS: 206 eyes underwent cataract extraction with PCIOL implantation. Small incision cataract surgery (SICS) was the commonest method (78.6%) used. The most common first post-operative day complication was mild iridocyclitis (26.2%). The complications were based on OCTET definitions, and showed that 33 % had Grade I and 3.4 % had Grade II complications. The major post-operative complication after 4 weeks of surgery was posterior capsular opacity. 89.8 % of the eyes had a 4 week-post-operative best corrected visual acuity of e± 6/24. The commonest refractive error was myopia with against the rule astigmatism, seen in 86 out of 150 cases.
CONCLUSION: High quality cataract surgery with a low rate of intra-operative complications and good visual outcome can be attained in camp patients operated in the base hospitals, thus justifying more similar screening camps to clear the vast cataract backlog. © NEPjOPH.