RESUMO
The present study was done to assess the results of cataract surgery performed in Siriraj Hospital by comparing phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction techniques in senile cataract patients within a 3-month period. The prospective observational study of a representative sample of 379 patients (409 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery in Siriraj Hospital from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2004. Identical clinical assessment protocol was used to compare the improvement of postoperative visual acuity and surgical complications between two surgical techniques and different surgeons. Of the 409 eyes, phacoemulsification was performed on 373 eyes (91.2%), and extracapsular cataract extraction was performed on 36 eyes (8.8%). Departmental staff operated on 326 eyes (79.7%) and ophthalmology residents operated on 83 eyes (20.3%). The primary outcome was postoperative visual acuity. Visual acuity was improved > or = 2 Snellen chart lines in 278 of 373 eyes (74.5%) in the phacoemulsification group, and > or = 2 lines in 31 of 36 eyes (86.1%) in the extracapsular cataract extraction group. A small risk of surgical complications was found in the present study. Posterior lens capsule rupture was the most frequent complication found (10/ 409 eyes), followed by corneal injury (9 of 409 eyes). Endophthalmitis was the most severe complication in the present study, occurring in 1 of 409 eyes. There was a significant difference in postoperative visual improvement between phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction techniques. Final visual acuity in the phacoemulsification group was better than in the extracapsular cataract extraction group.