Monitoring visual outcome of cataract surgery in India

Two simple methods of assessing Visual outcome following cataract surgery w ere evaluated in India. The first used data obtained from standardized pati ent records of cataract surgery. The second used data from population-based rapid epidemiological assessments. Analysis of 4168 hospital and eye camp records showed that, with the available standard correction, a good outcome (visual acuity greater than or equal to 6/18) was achieved in 37.8%, a bor derline outcome (visual acuity 6/24-6/60) in 45.6% and a poor outcome (visu al acuity 6/60) in 16.6% of instances. Of 2401 aphakic/pseudophakic eyes ex amined in a cross-sectional population-based study, outcome was good in 43. 5% and poor in 26.4%. For 776 eyes examined in a similar study in a differe nt state, outcome was good in 49.9% and poor in 23.9%. These assessments in dicate that outcome with available correction was poor in 15-25% of eyes fo llowing cataract surgery. Visual outcome is likely to improve when better c orrection for aphakia can be provided. Further assessment of the causes of poor Visual outcome is needed. The visual outcome following cataract surger y could be monitored on a regular basis by ophthalmologists, using either o f the methods evaluated, an exercise which in itself is likely to improve t he outcome of surgery. When the proportion of poor outcomes is high (>10%) further investigation into the causes is warranted.