ABSTRACT
We have only recently started intraocular lens [IOL] implantation surgery in Quetta, Baluchistan at the Helpers Eye Hospital, and this is the first report of our results of the manual extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber [IOL] implantation. The procedure was performed on 134 patients. An important socioeconomic aspect of cataract surgery in our region was brought home by the fact that 31 of these patients did not return for follow-up. Another three patients died of acute myocardial infarction. In the remaining 100 patients, postoperative visual acuity ranged from 3/60 to 6/6; 79 patients regained unaided visual acuity of 6/24 [20/80], which improved to 6/9 [20/30] or better with correction; 14 patients had vision below 6/36 [20/120], which improved to 6/12 [20/40] with glasses; five patients could improve only to 6/60 [20/200] with best correction; two patients' visual acuity did not improve beyond 3/60 [10/200] due to the advanced macular degeneration. The postoperative complications include posterior capsule thickening in eight patients [8%]; anterior uveitis in seven patient [7%]; vascular congestion at and around the wound persisting after one month in 20 patients [20%]; traumatic wound dehiscence in three patients [3%]; IOL decentration in two patients [2%]; elevated intraocular pressure in two patients [2%]; traumatic vitreous hemorrhage in one patient [1%]; distortion of pupil in one patient [1%]; and endophthalmitis in one patient [1%]. [Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology, 10:49-50, April and July, 1994]