Profile of Cataract Surgical Patients at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Background: Cataract surgery has evolved over the years. This study aims to highlight the profile of the patients that underwent cataract surgery at a tertiary hospital with emphasis on patient demographics, surgical techniques performed, intraocular lens powers implanted, and the complications managed.

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study of all patients who had undergone cataract surgery within two years at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria. Data extracted from the electronic version of the manual cataract surgical records included the patient's age, sex, comorbidities, technique of cataract surgery performed, the intraocular lens powers implanted, and complications encountered. Intraoperative and postoperative complications up to the twelfth week were considered. All patients had biometry-guided intraocular lens implantation.

Results: One thousand four hundred and seventy- two (1,472) patient records of all ages met the inclusion criteria with a male-female ratio of 1.4:1. The mean age was 51.4 ± 22.6 years. The difference in the mean age of the sexes was statistically significant (p=0.01) and 95% CI was 7.37- 10.40 years. Glaucoma was the commonest ocular comorbidity 142(9.65%) and only 5% (74) had systemic comorbidities. The mean intraocular lens (IOL) power was 19.25 ± 1.8Diopters (Range 10.5D to 26D). The commonest surgery performed was small incision cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implant (SICS + PCIOL) 91.2% followed by Trabeculectomy with SICS + PCIOL (3.87%). Phacoemulsification accounted for 2.72% of surgeries. Intra-operative complications were posterior capsular rent in 7.1% (104) and vitreous loss in 4% (58). The commonest post-operative complications were corneal edema6.9% (103) and striae keratopathy 4.6% (68).

Conclusion: Most cataract patients were male, above 50years of age and likely to be older than the females at surgery. The most performed surgical technique was small incision cataract surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (SICS + PCIOL) while the mean intra-ocular lens power was 19.25 ± 1.8Dioptres. Globally accepted cataract surgical techniques utilizing recent technological advancements were employed with biometry-guided intraocular lens power calculation and implantation. Complications fell within the accepted global rates.