SYSTEMIC-DISEASES IN AGE-RELATED CATARACT PATIENTS

Age related cataract is the most common cause of blindness in the worl d. Most of these patients are elderly and are likely to have various a ssociated systemic diseases. Higher mortality has been reported in pat ients undergoing cataract surgery. In order to determine the prevalenc e of associated systemic disease, we carried out a large eye camp base d study in 6103 age related cataract patients. Seventeen percent of ou r patients had systemic problems. Pulmonary disease was seen in 4.3%, cardiovascular disease and hypertension in 4.1%, diabetes mellitus in 3.8%, skin disorder in 1.4%, orodental disease requiring tooth extract ion in 3%, and other diseases were seen in 0.4% of the cases. Seventy eight patients (1.27%) had significant systemic complications post-ope ratively, 46% of whom required hospitalization in a tertiary care cent er. Thus, all patients undergoing cataract surgery should be evaluated for associated systemic diseases to prevent morbidity and mortality i n the preoperative, operative and postoperative period.