Visual outcome following traumatic wound dehiscence after cataract surgery.

We reviewed the charts of 21 patients who had cataract surgery and subsequent ocular trauma with wound dehiscence. Eighteen patients were re-examined for this study; the other three were lost to follow-up. A complete examination of both eyes was performed 3 to 84 months after the trauma occurred. Patients were assigned to one of two groups: Group A, minor trauma (n = 14), or Group B, major trauma (n = 7). In Group A, visual acuity was 20/40 or better in four patients, 20/50 to 20/80 in five patients, and 20/300 or worse in three patients. In Group B, visual acuity was 20/60 or better in three patients and 20/300 or worse in three patients. Poor visual acuity was associated with endophthalmitis and bullous keratopathy in Group A and globe rupture or recurrent retinal detachment in Group B. In 14 of the 18 patients, final visual acuity in the traumatized eye was similar to that in the fellow eye, which had the same ocular pathology. This study suggests that pre-existing ocular disease is an important factor in final visual outcome in patients with traumatic wound dehiscence after cataract surgery.