Clinical analysis of small incision extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in poverty-stricken areas in Africa

Objective To investigate the small incision extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in the clinical effect and feasibility of poverty-stricken areas of Africa.Methods During the foreign aid in Moroccan from march 2009 to march 2011,the age of 45 to 86-year-old Moroccan patients with 538 cases (580 eyes) had undergone small incision extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation.The visual acuity,postoperative complications were observed.Results Visual acuity of1.0 or more were obtained in 25 eyes (4.31％),0.6～1.0in 148 eyes (25.52％),0.3 ～0.5 in 328 eyes (56.55％),0.05 ～0.25 in 74 eyes (12.76％),＜0.05 in 5 eyes (0.86％).Literacy rate was 99.14％,removing residual was 86.38％.Intraoperative complications:iris prolapse 23 eyes (3.97％) ; posterior capsular rupture 33 eyes (5.69％),among which 28 eyes were applied posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation at stage Ⅰ,two cases at stage Ⅱ,the other three eases gave up implantation.Postoperative complications:corneal edema,opacity 21 eyes (3.62％),no corneal bullae or corneal decompensation occurred.Anterior chamber inflammatory response 51 eyes (8.79％).Late-onset uveitis 11 eyes,of which 9 related to diabetes.All patients were found no retinal detachment,secondary glaucoma,intraocular lens dislocation or endophthalmitis.Conclusion Small incision extracapsular cataract extraction with IOL implantation in the joint damage,quick recovery,easy to operate,low cost,suitable for the hospital,poor economic conditions,the places and people,it become possible to make the local poor people cataract bright. Key words: Aid for Africa; Cataract; Cataract extraction,extracapsular,small incision; Intraocular lens implantation