Phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification and PMMA posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

METHODS

The surgery was performed on 74 eyes of 67 patients with senile, complicated and congenital cataracts.

RESULTS

Post-operatively, the visual acuities with spherical correction or without correction were 0.5 or better in 80.5% at one week and with correction, in 97.6% at three months. The mean astigmatism was 1.90 +/- 1.15 D at one week and 0.93 +/- 0.55 D at three months which were respectively less than that in the control group with a 10-12 mm large incision (P < 0.001), but almost the same as that in the control group with a small incision and manual nucleus division technique (P > 0.05). The main complications were iris bite in 6 eyes, capsular rupture in 2 eyes and aseptic hypopyon in one eye. The selection of cases, surgical techniques and management of intraoperative complications were discussed.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that phacoemulsification be applied extensively. However, that it has more complications and risk must be emphasized for a beginner.