title: Bilateral versus unilateral cataract extraction: advantages and complications.
abstract: Cataract extraction was performed on 734 patients. These were followed up postoperatively for up to 1 year. In 448 cases the extraction was performed in both eyes during 1 operating session (896 eyes) and in 1 eye in 286 cases, a total of 1182 cataract extractions. Preoperatively more than 75% of the eyes in both groups had perception of light only. Postoperatively more than 85% of eyes in both groups achieved a visual acuity of 6/30 or better. The postoperative visual performance of an eye was not influenced by the mode of operation, bilateral or unilateral. The overall incidence of complications among the 1182 operated eyes was: accidental extra-capsular cataract extraction 10.2%, vitreous loss 11.0%, hyphaema 1.4%, flat anterior chamber 0.9%, dehiscence of the wound 0.5%, uveitis 1.2%, endophthalmitis 0.3%, secondary glaucoma 0.9%, severe bullous keratopathy 1.4%, oedema of the macula 0.5%, and retinal detachment 0.3%. The complications in both groups of patients were comparable. Only in 1 case operated in both eyes vision was not restored following a bilateral endophthalmitis.
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000150:complications; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006988:Hyphema / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014605:Uveitis / Q000150:complications; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body