title: Cataract surgery in aged patients: phacoemulsification or small-incision extracapsular cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects and safety of phacoemulsification (Phaco) or small-incision extracapsular cataract surgery (SICS) and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for aged patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 137 aged patients (149 eyes) underwent cataract operation in the case of stable systemic condition, the blood pressure less than 160/95mmHg, blood glucose less than 8mmol/L, and under the help of electrocardiogram surveillance by anesthesiologists during the operation. 106 aged patients (114 eyes) underwent Phaco while 31 aged patients (35 eyes) underwent SICS. The postoperative visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell loss, surgery time and major complications were observed and analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA) of ≥0.6 was achieved in 135 eyes (92.6%) at 1 month postoperatively (χ(2)=259.730, P<0.001). For aged patients, both Phaco and SICS could significantly improve visual acuity with no significant difference (χ(2)=4.535, P>0.05). Postoperative corneal endothelial cell loss was 18.6%, in PHACO group, the rate was 18.5%; in SICS group, the rate was 19.0%, the difference of which was no significant (χ(2)=0.102, P>0.05). The surgery time was different in two groups. No severe complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Phaco and SICS combined with IOL implantation for aged patients are effective and safe. Before surgery, detailed physical examination should be performed. When the systemic condition is stable, cataract surgery for aged patients is safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Gui-Qiu
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shan-Yao
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhao