Safety and efficacy of temporal manual small incision cataract surgery in India

To assess safety and efficacy of temporal manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in context to visual outcome, astigmatism, and complications.

This involved sclerocorneal tunnel, capsulotomy, and hydrodissection. The incision was made with number 11 disposable surgical blade (costing Indian Rs. 2.50, $0.05). Nucleus extraction was done by phaco-sandwich method with the help of vectis and dialer. Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was done according to biometric findings. A record of intraoperative and postoperative complications was made. The final postoperative assessment of astigmatism was done with spectacle correction on the 45th day as per the refraction findings.

Two thousand eyes were operated by temporal, manual small incision sutureless technique. Uncorrected visual acuity was >6/18 in 1636 (81.7%) patients on the first postoperative day, in 1652 (82.6%) patients at 2 weeks, and in 1732 (88.6%) patients at 6 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) >6/18 was achieved in 1868 (93.4%) patients at 6 weeks, with 46 (2.3%) having BCVA <6/60, 24 (1.2%) of whom had preexisting retinal pathology. At 6 weeks, 1876 (93.8%) eyes had with-the-rule and 134 (6.2%) against-the-rule astigmatism (mean 0.7±1.25 D). Iris prolapse was noted in 3 (0.15%), wound leak in 3 (0.15%), and transient corneal edema in 136 (6.8%) eyes. Average surgery time was 6 minutes.

Temporal SICS with number 11 disposable surgical blade and nucleus delivery by phaco-sandwich method gave excellent outcome with minimal astigmatism and low complication rate at economic cost.