A retrospective study of cataract surgery in the Singapore General Hospital in 1990

Nine hundred and ninety-five consecutive cases of cataract extraction with or without lens implantation performed within the first three months of 1990 in the Singapore General Hospital were examined retrospectively. Of the 995 cases, 874 (87.84%) were deemed to have adequate postoperative evaluation at an average of 12.5 months. Of these cases, 79.52% (695 eyes) obtained a visual acuity of 6/12 or better. When cases with pre-existing causes of poor vision were excluded, 90.25% of cases obtained a visual acuity of 6/12 or better. If potentially treatable causes of postoperative poor vision (such as posterior capsule opacification awaiting Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy and high astigmatism prior to suture removal) were further excluded from analysis, this figure would rise to 93.66%. The incidence of posterior capsule rupture was 1.4%. Factors affecting visual success included patient age, lens hypermaturity and duration of surgery.