Abstract:AIM: To compare the clinical effect of phacoemulsification and middle incision extracapsular cataract extraction(MI-ECCE).
METHODS: One hundred and eighty-five eyes of phacoemulsification(137 cases)and 185 eyes of 139 cases for MI-ECCE from January 2011 to May 2013 were involved in this study. And the ratio posterior capsular rupture during surgery, visual acuity, corneal edema, corneal astigmatism and intraocular pressure post operation were followed up.
RESULTS: On 1d after surgery, uncorrected visual acuity in the group of MI-ECCE was better than that of phacoemulsification group, while from 3d; 1 and 3mo after surgery, no significant difference was found from the above two groups. On 1d postoperation, corneal edema ratio in phacoemulsification group(45 eyes)was higher than that in MI-ECCE group(20 eyes)(χ2=11.665, P=0.0006). No significant difference was found for the ratio of posterior capsule rupture during surgery in these two surgical technique groups(χ2=0.094,P=0.759). On 1wk; 1 and 3mo after surgery, significant difference was found for the average of surgical induced corneal astigmatism between two groups(u=6.661, 6.880, 4.187, P=0.00, respectively). During following up, no significant difference was found for the intraocular pressure between two groups(u=1.858, 0.963, 0.471, 1.349, 1.388; P=0.063, 0.335, 0.638, 0.177, 0.165). Intraocular pressure on 1d postoperation in phacoemulsification and MI-ECCE groups was higher than before operation(u=19.86, 19.39, P=0.00, respectively). And on 1wk; 1 and 3mo postoperation, intraocular pressure in the operated eyes in both groups was lower than before operation for 2～3mmHg.
CONCLUSION: Although phacoemulsification and MI-ECCE could both get good visual rehabilitation, with similar visual outcome, no significant effect for intraocular pressure, and no severe complications, the latter one owns the advantage that easier maneuver, quicker recovery, and cheaper instruments needed, which is suitable for the hard nuclei cataract in local hospitals. MI-ECCE is a safe, effective and easy manipulation for local hospital for large batch of cataract surgeries.
