Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Emmetropia after cataract removal and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation is vital for the achievement of a clear postoperative vision . Any significant deviation from this target leads to patient dissatisfaction.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study is to evaluate the importance of various factors in causing deviation from post-cataract surgery emmetropia.
Design: prospective non comparative observational study.
METHODS:
114 eyes from 114 patients with uncomplicated cataract were enrolled for this study, biometry was done for the patients then they were operated on by phacoemulsification and foldable posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation .After one month from the surgery retinoscopy and manual refraction was done for all patients.
RESULTS:
Operated patients had a mean age of 61.4±5.6 years. Of the 114 eyes, 73 eyes (64.03%) were within 1 diopter (D) spherical equivalent (SE) of emmetropia. The number of eyes with postoperative astigmatism was 104 (91.22%); the mean absolute postoperative astigmatism amplitude was 1.346 D±0.421(SD). The mean absolute biometry prediction error was 1.007 D±0.246 (SD). The number of eyes with biometry error was 65 eyes (62.5%).
CONCLUSION:
Emmetropia is the goal in most cataract surgeries but only 64.03% of eyes were within 1.0 D (SE) of this target. Factors precluding emmetropia include postoperative astigmatism and biometry prediction errors.