RESUMO
To describe visual outcome and the complications related to cataract surgery performed by phacoemulsification technique by fourth-year ophthalmology residents at Al-ibrahim eye hospital, Karachi, who are trained to perform phacoemulsification with prior experience with manual extracapsular extraction. Prospective, observational case series. We prospectively analyzed the incidence of complications and visual outcomes in the initial 575 phacoemulsifications [575 patients] performed by the 5 residents learning phacoemulsification in our training programe. All were experienced in standard [manual] extra capsular cataract extraction. Postoperative follow up of 6 weeks was available in 547 eyes. The 28 patients [28 eyes] lost to follow up did not have any intra-operative complications. Of 575 cataract surgeries, 559 eyes [97.2%] were performed using phacoemulsification technique. Posterior capsule disruption without vitreous loss occurred in 16 [2.8%], vitreous loss in 15 [2.6%] and IOL displaced into vitreous in 4 [0.7%] of 559 cases that underwent phacoemulsification technique. Other complications encountered in-Cluded localized corneal edema [23 eyes], iris damage interiorly [1 eye] and clinical cystoid macular edema [1 eyes]. A best corrected visual acuity of 6/ 12 or better was obtained in 521 eyes [95.2%] of the 547 eyes available for the six week follow up. In the eyes with vitreous loss, 10 out of 15 had visual acuity better than 6/12. The residents can perform phacoemulsification well with a very low complication rate, with prior training with extra capsular cataract extraction technique