[Intraocular lens implantation in traumatic cataract]

The evaluation of postoperative results and complications after traumatic cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation.

Forty two eyes of 41 patients (31 male and 10 female) aged from 10 to 66 years (mean 37.8) with traumatic cataract were the subject of our study. They were operated on between 1996 and 1997. A penetrating injury in 33 eyes (78.6%) and blunt trauma in 9 eyes (21.4%) caused the cataract. The interval between trauma and cataract surgery ranged from 1 day to 40 years. The mean follow up was 13.5 months. Despite of cataract corneal scars, pupil deformations, posterior and anterior synechiae were observed in most of the eyes. Extracapsular cataract extraction was performed in all cases. Posterior chamber IOLs were implanted in 33 eyes. Anterior vitrectomy and anterior chamber IOL implantation was performed in 9 eyes due to the lack of capsular support.

Very good or good visual acuity (5/5-5/16) was achieved in 71.4% of cases. Low visual acuity (below 5/50) was observed in 6 eyes (14.3%) because of severe damage to the retina, optic nerve atrophy or amblyopia. Fibrin reaction in anterior chamber (30.9%), hyphaema (19%) and haemophtalmus (4.8%) were the most severe postoperative complications.

An intraocular lens implantation in traumatic cataract, despite many postoperative complications, enables most of the patients to achieve satisfactory and useful vision. Patients with severe posterior segment damage do not benefit functionally from cataract surgery.