The incidence of vitreous loss and visual outcome in patients undergoing cataract surgery in a teaching hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of vitreous loss in patients undergoing cataract surgery and the visual outcome in a tertiary teaching hospital.


METHODS
Hospital records of 2095 consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery between July 1999 and June 2000 were reviewed in this non-concurrent cohort study. Incidence and visual outcome of vitreous loss managed using standard vitrectomy techniques were assessed for different cataract surgical techniques (extracapsular, Blumenthal technique and phacoemulsification) as well as at different levels of surgical training. The outcome was compared with matched cases without vitreous loss (controls).


RESULTS
Vitreous loss occurred in 160 of 2095 eyes (7.63%; CI -7 to 9.3): 8.3% for ECCE, 8.1% for the Blumenthal technique and 5% with phacoemulsification. Vision > or = 6/18 was achieved in 85% of cases and 95% of controls. For experienced surgeons, 95% of the cases and controls had vision > or = 6/18. 5.8% of cases and 0.7% of controls had vision < 6/60. One patient in each group was blind following cataract surgery; both had operable cataracts in the fellow eye.


CONCLUSIONS
The vitreous loss rate in this tertiary teaching hospital is relatively high. This complication, managed with standard surgical techniques, is compatible with good visual outcome. In eyes with vitreous loss, the final visual acuity achieved by experienced surgeons was similar to that in uncomplicated cases.
Kothari
Mihir
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Schell Eye Hospital, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Thomas
Ravi
R
Parikh
Rajul
R
Braganza
Andrew
A
Kuriakose
Thomas
T
Muliyil
Jayprakash
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*