Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2005  |  Volume : 53  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 173--176

Manual small incision cataract surgery in eyes with white cataracts


Rengaraj Venkatesh1, Manoranjan Das2, Sadasivam Prashanth1, Radhakrishnan Muralikrishnan3,  
1 Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, India
2 Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India
3 Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Madurai, India

Correspondence Address:
Rengaraj Venkatesh
Aravind Eye Hospital, Thavalakuppam, Pondicherry - 605 007
India

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) in cases of white cataract with the use of trypan blue as an adjunct for performing continuous curvilinear capsulorthexis (CCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study on 100 consecutive eyes of 100 patients with white cataract who had undergone MSICS with trypan blue assisted CCC. The nucleus was prolapsed into anterior chamber by using a sinskey hook and extracted out of the eye using irrigating vectis. Intraoperative and postoperative findings (according to OCTET classification) as well as postoperative visual outcomes were used as main measures to report the safety and efficacy of the surgery. RESULTS: Of the 100 eyes, 16 had intumescent, 67 had mature and 17 had hypermature cataract. Intraoperatively CCC was incomplete in 4 eyes (4%) and had to be converted to canopener capsulotomy. None of the eyes had posterior capsular rupture or zonular dialysis and no eyes were converted to conventional Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction (ECCE). Postoperatively, 6 eyes (6%) developed corneal oedema with >10 Descemets folds and 7 eyes (7%) had corneal oedema with < 10 Descemets folds. Mild iritis was seen in 6 eyes (6%) and moderate iritis with fibrin membrane was seen in 3 eyes (3%). Iridodialysis was observed in 1 eye (1%). Of the 99 patients (99%) categorised under good visual outcomes category, 94 patients (94%) had a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/9 or better on the 40th post-operative day. CONCLUSION: In developing countries like India where phacoemulsification may not be affordable to a majority of those requiring cataract surgery, MSICS proves to be a safe and efficacious alternative for white cataracts especially with the adjunctive use of trypan blue dye.



How to cite this article:
Venkatesh R, Das M, Prashanth S, Muralikrishnan R. Manual small incision cataract surgery in eyes with white cataracts.Indian J Ophthalmol 2005;53:173-176


How to cite this URL:
Venkatesh R, Das M, Prashanth S, Muralikrishnan R. Manual small incision cataract surgery in eyes with white cataracts. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2005 [cited 2023 Sep 27 ];53:173-176
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2005/53/3/173/16675


Full Text

In India, there are 12.5 million blind and it is estimated that 50% to 80%[1], [2] of them are blind due to cataract. In addition to the backlog, an additional 3.8 million become blind each year due to cataract.[3] Most patients had advanced stages of cataract with intumescent, mature or hypermature lenses. Majority of these patients are socioeconomically backward and cannot afford procedures such as phacoemulsification. Conventionally, in the last millenium Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction with Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Implantation (ECCE-PCIOL) was considered an effective means of restoring visual function and improving vision related quality of life in developing countries. However, it has its own problems related to wound suturing with its associated complications and late visual rehabilitation.[4] Recent reports indicate that both Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) and ECCE-PCIOL are safe and effective for treatment of cataract surgery, however, MSICS gives better uncorrected vision.[5] In this context, MSICS is gaining popularity in developing countries as an inexpensive alternative to phacoemulsification.[6] Inspite of the fact that MSICS can be a cost-effective procedure, more research on the outcomes of MSICS is warranted.[7] This study reports the results of a prospective observational study done to assess the safety and efficacy of MSICS in white cataracts with trypan blue assisted continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC).

 Patients and Methods



This study included 100 eyes of 100 consecutive patients with white cataracts who had routine MSICS operated at Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry, between May and December 2003. The patients were operated at the charitable section of the hospital through either an outreach camp or direct availed services at free/subsidised cost. Preoperative examination like detailed slit lamp examination, schiotz tonometry, keratometry, A scan biometry and all routine pre-operative examinations were done at the base hospital (for camp patients after transportation), one day prior to surgery. White cataracts were classified as intumescent, mature or hypermature based on the depth of the anterior chamber, appearance of the anterior capsule and nature of lens matter pre-operatively. Cataract in eyes with shallow anterior chamber caused by hydrated swollen lens matter constituted intumescent group. A cataract with totally opaque lens matter and normal anterior chamber depth was considered mature. Hypermature cataracts had milky cortex or fibrous anterior capsule or both. The inclusion criteria included white cataracts with healthy endothelium (examined under high magnification using slit lamp) and without coexisting ocular pathology. Patient with small non-dilating pupil (

B scan ultrasonography was done only in eyes with abnormal pupillary reaction (relative afferent pupillary defect) with no perception of light.

 Surgical technique



After an adequate mydriasis with tropicamide 0.8% and phenylephrine 5%, a combination of retrobulbar and facial block was administered. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon (RV).

A superior rectus bridal suture was fixed. A fornix based conjunctival flap was created superiorly and haemostasis achieved with bipolar diathermy. A partial thickness 6 - 6.5mm frown shaped external scleral incision was made 2 mm behind the limbus. Scleral tunnel was constructed using a crescent knife (Sharpedge, India) and extended up to 1.0 mm into clear cornea. Additional paracentesis was made at 10'o clock position using a paracentesis knife (Sharpedge, India). Through the paracentesis, first an air bubble was injected to reform the anterior chamber and protect the endothelium, then 0.1 ml of 0.06% trypan blue (Auroblue, Aurolab, India) was injected below the air bubble using a 26 g needle. After a few seconds the air bubble was removed by injecting viscoelastic (Aurovisc, Aurolab, India) through the paracentesis to attain a uniform staining of the anterior capsule.

A 3.2mm keratome (Sharpedge, India), was used to access the anterior chamber and the internal corneal incision was extended for about 0.5mm more than the external scleral incision. The anterior chamber was deepened using a viscoelastic and a CCC of 5 - 6 mm was initiated and completed using a bent 26-gauge needle mounted on a viscoelastic syringe. In most of the cases of mature and intumescent cataract, CCC was completed with a cystitome. In cases of hypermature cataract, a small trap door or nick was made in the anterior capsule through which the liquid cortex was emptied and the CCC was completed using an utrata capsulorrhexis forceps. If the CCC margin extended to the periphery, the capsulotomy was converted to canopener type. Hydroprocedures were done with a 24-gauge hydrodissection cannula. The nucleus was made to rotate freely by hydroprocedures. A sinskey hook was used to hook out one pole of the nucleus outside the capsular bag and the rest of the nucleus was wheeled out into the anterior chamber.

After a good cover of viscoelastic, the prolapsed nucleus was extracted from the eye using an irrigating vectis (Indogerman, India) employing the principles of mechanical and hydrostatic pressure by pressing the posterior lip to open the valve for the exit of the nucleus. The cortex was washed using a simcoe cannula (Indogerman, India) and a 6 mm optic PMMA PCIOL (Aurolab, India) was implanted in the capsular bag inflated by viscoelastics. The viscoelastic material was replaced by a balanced salt solution and stromal hydration was performed by injecting fluid to the side of the paracentesis. The integrity of the self-sealing scleral incision was ensured and the cut conjunctival flap was apposed using a forceps fitted to bipolar diathermy.

Types of cataract, intraoperative findings or complications were recorded both in the case records as well as in a standard proforma. Postoperatively, patients were examined on the 1st and 40th post-operative days. A high follow-up rate on Day 40 was achieved with a strong post-operative counselling process in the hospital. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were graded according to Oxford Cataract Treatment and Evaluation Team (OCTET) classification[8]. According to OCTET, Grade I were trivial complications that may have needed medical therapy, but were not likely to result in a marked drop in visual acuity. Grade II were intermediate complications that needed medical therapy, and would have resulted in a marked drop in visual acuity if left untreated. Grade III were serious complications that would have needed immediate medical or surgical intervention to prevent gross visual loss. [8] Uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA) and Best Correct Visual Acuity (BCVA) using a Snellen's chart were also recorded on the 1st and 40th postoperative days. On the 40th postoperative day, the complete ophthalmic examination included slit lamp examination, fundus examination and refraction.

 Results



Intraoperative

Of the 100 eyes operated, 55 had surgery in the right eye and 45 had surgery in the left eye. There were 49 males and 51 females in the study. The pre-operative vision for all patients were either FCF (finger counting close to face) or HM (hand movements) or PL (perception of light). Surgery was done on 16 intumescent (16%), 67 mature (67%) and 17 hypermature (17%) cataracts [Table 1]. Capsulorhexis tear was converted to can-opener type of capsulotomy in 4 cases (4%). All the four cases were intumescent and all of them developed intraoperative miosis. In the rest of the 96 eyes, CCC was completed successfully. One of the patients had inferior iridodialysis during delivery of a big nucleus. None of the eyes had posterior capsular rupture or zonular dialysis and no eyes were converted to conventional ECCE.

Postoperative

On the first postoperative day, according to OCTET classification, corneal oedema with Descemet's folds >10 developed in 6 eyes (6%), corneal oedema with Descemets folds et al reports a failure of CCC with adjunct use of trypan blue in 3.85% of eyes with white cataract.[11] This compares favourably with our results in four cases (4%). All those cataracts in which the CCC was converted to can-opener type were intumescent in nature. The incomplete CCC encountered was possibly due to increased intralenticular pressure. The challenge of performing CCC in white cataracts is well documented.[10] This is because of lack of red reflex, poor contrast between the anterior capsule and the underlying cortex, high intralenticular pressure in intumescent cataracts, leaking of lens matter from the anterior capsule puncture sites and the occasional presence of capsular fibrosis. Various methods have been described to tackle such situations effectively. Use of trypan blue is found to be safe and effective in performing a CCC.[14] In MSICS, it also helps in making the difficult step of nucleus prolapse through an intact capsulorrhexis safe and effortless, because the dye stained capsular rim is distinctly visible all throughout the surgery. As a result, any compromise to the capsular bag during prolapse of nucleus can be detected easily and relaxing incisions can be made at any point of the process thereby saving the intracapsular removal of nucleus.

Immediate postoperative complications such as corneal oedema found in 13% of the cases in our study were higher than the published results of phacoemulsification in white cataracts[9],[11] raising doubts whether phacoemulsification is more endothelial friendly. However, all of them were resolved with medical therapy by the time of discharge. One of the major reasons for the high incidence of corneal oedema in our situation is that many of the cataracts were hard and were camouflaged in white cortex and many of them had grade 5 cataract similar to what has been reported in the literature.[10] In such circumstances, MSICS has been found to be effective to tackle these hard cataracts without much intraoperative complication, as demonstrated in our study (intraoperative miosis-4% and inferior iridodialysis-1%). Final visual outcome on the 40th postoperative day was satisfactory, with 94% of patients having BCVA of 6/9 or better. It compares favourably with other studies on white cataracts. [9],[10],[11] Jacob et al reports that 3.85% of cases where a CCC had failed it had to be converted to conventional ECCE.[11] This was not the case with our study, as we could comfortably continue a sutureless procedure MSICS with a can-opener capsulotomy.

This study concludes that creating a complete CCC and prolapsing the nucleus from the bag into the anterior chamber are the two difficulties encountered during MSICS in eyes with white cataracts. Trypan blue staining helps the surgeon to visualise the anterior lens capsule while performing CCC. Secondly, it makes the prolapse of nucleus using sinskey hook a very safe maneuver by delineating the CCC margin and the underlying cortex. Hence, in developing countries like India where phacoemulsification may be unaffordable to the majority of population requiring cataract surgery, MSICS could to be a safe and efficacious alternative in white cataract, especially with the adjunctive use of trypan blue dye.

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