The visual outcomes after cataract surgery in urban slums of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India: a cross sectional study

Background: Poor outcomes of cataract surgery are a major problem in developing countries, including India which affects the demand and uptake of cataract surgical services. The present study was aimed to assess the visual outcomes after cataract surgery and identify factors associated with it, among persons aged 50 year and above in urban slums of Raipur.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in15 randomly selected clusters (urban slums) of Raipur from June 2012 to March 2013. Interviews, Visual Acuity measurements and ocular examinations were performed on all persons aged 50 year and above through house to house visits. Details about surgical intervention i.e. date, setting, type of cataract surgery were obtained from cataract operated persons, for each eye that had cataract surgery. Collected data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The chi- square test was used to determine the associations of different cataract related parameters with visual outcomes in cataract operated eyes.Results: Of the 870 participants, 203 persons (329 eyes) had undergone cataract surgery. Among all operated eyes, visual outcome was good (VA ?6/18) in 84.5%, borderline (VA <6/18 and ?6/60) in 12.5%, and poor (VA <6/60) in 3% of eyes with available correction. Visual outcome of cataract surgery was significantly associated with age at time of surgery, literacy, type of surgery, place of surgery and time since surgery.Conclusions: The visual outcomes of cataract surgery were excellent in study area; it can be further improved by appropriate refractive correction, provision of glasses and adequate follow up after cataract surgery.