Phacoemulsification versus Small Incision Cataract Surgery for Treatment of Cataract

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of suture-less small incision cataract surgery (SICS) on the postoperative astigmatism refractive error compared to the effect of phacoemulsification.Background: Non-Phacoemulsificationsuture-lesscataractextractionretainsmostoftheadvantagesofphacoemulsification with the comparable visual outcome and isaffordable.Materials and methods: Phacoemulsification and SICS were performed in 200 eyes of 200 patients. Both techniques wereperformedattheDepartmentofOphthalmology,EraUniversity,Lucknow,Uttar Pradesh.Thestudywasconductedbetween1January2020and28March 2021.The outcome was evaluated in both techniques in early visual rehabilitation, surgically induced astigmatism, and final best-corrected visualacuity.Results: Ofthe200patientswhounderwentphacoemulsification,60%weremalepatients,and40%were femalepatients.Ofthe200patientswhounderwentSICS,45%weremalepatients,and55% were female patients. Both surgical techniques achieved excellent visual outcomes with low complication rates. The initial visual recovery on the first postoperative day was better in the patientswhounderwentphacoemulsification,withtheuncorrectedvisualacuitybetterthanor equal to 6/18 in 75% of the patients. In contrast, the percentage was 60% in the SICS group. The initial difference was nearly equalized within four weeks. In the sixth month, 85% of the patientsintheMSICSgrouphaduncorrectedvisualacuitybetterthanorequalto6/18versus 90% of the patients in the phacoemulsification group. The surgically induced astigmatism at the sixth month was comparable in both techniques, 1.18 ± 0.2 D in the phacoemulsification group versus 1.2 ±0.23 D in the SICSgroup.Conclusion: BothphacoemulsificationandSICSachievedexcellentvisualoutcomeswithlowcomplication rates.SICSislesstechnology-dependent;hence,itislessexpensiveandmoreappropriate for treating advanced cataracts prevalent in the developingworld.