Complication rate in preliminary experience in phacoemulsification cataract surgery

Objective: To describe the perioperative and postoperative complications related to cataract surgery performedby phacoemulsification technique at Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic Medical Sciences (KIOMS),Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar. Methodology: One hundred consecutive cataract operations using phacoemulsification were performed fromJanuary 2011 to December 2011 at the KIOMS. After thorough examination and investigations, patients were operated. Most were operated using peribulbar anesthesia. First examination was done on the first post-operativeday and then patients were followed after three weeks and eight weeks. Their per-operative andpostoperative complications were analyzed and compared with complication rates reported in other studies. Results: Total 100 cases were included in the study with 30 patients having bilateral and 40 patients havingunilateral cataract. The mean age of patients was 57.4 ± 9.3 years. Posterior capsular rupture in 19 (19%)patients was the most common intraoperative complication. Corneal edema in 49 (49%) patients on firstpostoperative day was most common post operative complication. After three weeks the vision was 6/12 orbetter in 80 (80%) of cases. Conclusion: Posterior capsular rupture and corneal edema were most common intraoperative and postoperativecomplications respectively. Majority of patients had 6/6-6/12 vision by the end of first three weeksof cataract surgery.