Phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification and PMMA posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

METHODS: The surgery was performed on 74 eyes of 67 patients with senile, complicated and congenital cataracts.

RESULTS: Post-operatively, the visual acuities with spherical correction or without correction were 0.5 or better in 80.5% at one week and with correction, in 97.6% at three months. The mean astigmatism was 1.90 +/- 1.15 D at one week and 0.93 +/- 0.55 D at three months which were respectively less than that in the control group with a 10-12 mm large incision (P < 0.001), but almost the same as that in the control group with a small incision and manual nucleus division technique (P > 0.05). The main complications were iris bite in 6 eyes, capsular rupture in 2 eyes and aseptic hypopyon in one eye. The selection of cases, surgical techniques and management of intraoperative complications were discussed.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that phacoemulsification be applied extensively. However, that it has more complications and risk must be emphasized for a beginner.