[Phacoemulsification Versus Manual Phacoalternative Without Suture During Cataract Mass Surgery]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Techniques
• Public Health

Context:

• Phacoemulsification (Phaco E) is less common than manual phacoalternative without sutures (Phaco A) in low-income countries.
• Cataract surgery is a critical intervention for vision restoration, especially in resource-limited settings.
• Mass surgery campaigns aim to address high cataract burdens efficiently.

Purpose:

• To compare the visual outcomes and complication rates of phacoemulsification (Phaco E) versus manual phacoalternative without sutures (Phaco A).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of two cataract surgery techniques in a mass surgery setting in Libreville.
• To determine if one technique offers superior visual recovery or safety profiles.

Summary:

• A prospective study in Libreville compared phacoemulsification (Phaco E) and manual phacoalternative without sutures (Phaco A) in 233 patients with age-related cataracts.
• Phacoemulsification (Phaco E) yielded significantly better visual recovery (81.8% good VA) compared to Phaco A (75.4% good VA) (p=0.002).
• Both techniques exhibited low rates of per-operative (3% Phaco E vs 4.4% Phaco A) and post-operative (3% Phaco E vs 3.7% Phaco A) complications.

Impact:

• Phacoemulsification (Phaco E) is a viable and effective technique for improving visual outcomes in mass cataract surgery in low-income settings.
• The findings support the increased adoption of phacoemulsification (Phaco E) for enhanced patient vision restoration.
• Understanding the comparative efficacy of different cataract surgery methods is crucial for optimizing public health interventions.