title: Visual outcome of the first 500 cataract extractions done in the field; Jimma, Ethiopia.
abstract: In 1998, a total of 617 cataract operations were performed on 523 patients at five outreach sites in Jimma Zone; south-western Ethiopia. The first 500 consecutive operations performed on 423 patients were analysed for visual outcome two weeks following field surgery. Four hundred and seventy-seven eyes underwent standard intra capsular cataract extraction (ICCE) while 23 eyes underwent extra capsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Seventy-seven patients underwent bilateral cataract surgery while 346 patients had been operated on only one eye. Forty-two patients (10.1%) or eighty-one eyes were lost for follow up. Thirty-nine of the 77 patients (50.6%) who received bilateral surgery and only 3 of 346 patients (0.9%) who received unilateral surgery were lost for follow up. Seventy-seven eyes (18.4%) had final visual acuity (v/a) of > or = 6/18; 388 eyes (92.6%) had v/a of > or = 6/60 and 395 eyes (94.3%) had v/a > or = 3/60. Capsule rupture and vitreous loss were the most common intra operative complications, accounting for 7.4% and 6%, respectively. Both complications were encountered in 1.8% of the eyes. Twenty-four eyes (5.7%) were blind despite surgery. However, only three eyes were blind as a result of complications related to surgery. There is a need for improvement in the screening of patients for surgery. The overall visual outcome obtained was satisfactory. Possible factors affecting visual outcome are considered and recommendations to effect improvement discussed.
authors.affiliation: nzer1957@telecom.net.et
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zerihun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D003906:Developing Countries; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019035:Rural Health Services; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity