Faheem Ahmad, Syeda Iqra Iqbal.
Phacoemulsification; Outcome with Low Cost Rigid IOL in a Teaching Hospital.
Professional Med J Jan ;25(3):473-9.

Introduction: Objectives: To find out improvement in visual acuity and complications in low socioeconomic status patients that underwent phacoemulsification with low price IOL in a teaching hospital. Study Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology Independent University Hospital, Faisalabad. Period: One year from 01-04- 2016 to 31-03-2017. Material and Methods: Composed of 100 patients. In this study Inclusion criteria was poor old aged patients of both gender having grade one to grade three nuclear sclerosis with or without posterior sub capsular cataract. However patients having history of uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes mellitus, inadequate dilated pupil, subluxated lens or having previous history ocular surgery were excluded. Results: In this study 100 eyes with cataract operated by phacoemulsification with low cost rigid IOL under peribulbar anesthesia. The mean age of patients was 67.50 years (range 50-85 years). Male patients in this study were fifty Two (52%) While 48% were female Patients. Regarding the visual acuity in operated eyes with or without glasses, 80 eyes (80 %) had visual acuity of 6/6-6/12, visual acuity of 6/18 to 6/36 in 12 eyes and 6 eyes (6 %) had a best corrected visual acuity of 6/60 to CF. While visual acuity less than counting finger (CF) was percent in only 2 percent patients. Discussion: Un-operated cataract can induced severe visual impairment or blindness in cataract patients. In a study conducted in Pakistan reported that in about 76% cases of poor socioeconomic status most important barrier to cataract surgery was cost of surgery. According to this study different methods that can be adopted to reduce the cost of surgery by improving efficiency by conducting high volume cataract surgery and bulk purchasing of consumables surgical items especially cheaper intraocular lenses thus allowing even the poorest patients to have ophthalmic care. So it was observed that in patients of poor socioeconomic status numbers of barriers are being faced by such community in which cost is frequently mentioned and providing low cost phaco surgery with good postoperative vision allow to underwent cataract surgery who would not otherwise have it. Conclusion: In this study it was concluded that in developing countries like Pakistan in which majority of population belong to low socioeconomic status phacoemulsification with low cost rigid IOL not only yield good post-operative visual acuity but also reduced cataract induced blindness.

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