Morphology of traumatic cataract: does it play a role in final visual outcome?

Aim To study the morphology of traumatic cataract as an important predictor for final visual outcome after treatment of traumatic cataracts. Setting Tertiary eye care centre in Dahod at the trijunction of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states in central western India. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort study among all patients presenting at the hospital with traumatic cataracts between January 2003 and December 2009. All information regarding demographic and ocular trauma was collected on a pretested World Eye Trauma Registry form for both the first visit and follow-up. In particular, the authors collected specific information about the morphology of traumatic cataracts; the surgical technique was determined accordingly. Data were entered and analysed with regard to the relationship between type of trauma and resulting injury, results achieved with particular surgical techniques, and the relationship between morphology and final visual outcome. Outcome measures Final visual outcome. Results Traumatic cataracts of different morphologies showed significant differences in the final visual outcome (χ(2) test, p=0.014). Conclusion The morphology of traumatic cataract plays an important role in the final visual outcome.

Comparative study of final visual outcome between open- and closed-globe injuries following surgical treatment of traumatic cataract.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to compare final visual outcomes in cases of surgically treated traumatic cataract between open-globe and closed-globe groups, as classified by the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology system. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary eye-care center at the trijunction of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states in central western India. METHODS: We enrolled patients meeting specific inclusion criteria, examined their eyes to review any co-morbidities due to trauma, performed surgery for traumatic cataracts, and implanted lenses. The patients were re-examined 6 weeks postoperatively. We classified the cases of traumatic cataract as either open-globe (group 1) or closed-globe (group 2), according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) system, and compared visual acuity. OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual Acuity. RESULTS: Our cohort of 687 eyes with traumatic cataracts included 496 eyes in group 1 and 191 in group 2. Six weeks postoperatively, the visual acuity was >20/60 in 298 (58%) and 75 (39.1%) operated eyes in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001, ANOVA). At follow-up, >20/60 vision was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 0.85-3.02). Overall, 373 eyes (54.3%) regained final visual acuity >20/60. CONCLUSIONS: Open-globe injury has a more favorable prognosis for satisfactory (>20/60) visual recovery after management of traumatic cataracts.

Effect of interval between time of injury and timing of intervention on final visual outcome in cases of traumatic cataract.

PURPOSE: There are no clear guidelines to treat traumatic cataract. This study was conducted to provide evidence-based care to patients with traumatic cataracts and to examine the effect of the time interval between injury and the first intervention on the final visual outcome. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, all patients presenting to our hospital with traumatic cataracts between January 2003 and December 2009 were enrolled. Information regarding demographics and ocular trauma was collected on the pretested World Eye Trauma Registry form for both the first and follow-up visits. In particular, we collected specific information on the time interval between the injury and intervention. The relationship between this time interval and the final visual outcome was analyzed. The study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center, in Dahod, at the junction of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states, in central western India. RESULTS: The time interval between the injury and first intervention had a significant effect on the final visual outcome (p = 0.02, chi2 test). CONCLUSIONS: The morphology of traumatic cataracts plays an important role in determining the appropriate surgical technique and the final visual outcome.