AIM: To study the surgery method, risk factors and prevention of extracapsular cataract extraction(ECCE)and posterior chamber intraocular lens(PC-IOL)implantation through microcoria in leprosy patients in order to minimize the surgical complications.

METHODS: Totally 72 leprosy patients(83 eyes)with cataract were treated by cutting the sphincter muscle of pupil to enlarger the pupil, then performing ECCE and PC-IOL. The visual acuity and complications were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS: At 6mo postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity was ≥0.5 in 20 eyes(24%), 0.1 to<0.5 in 33 eyes(40%), <0.1 in 14 eyes(17%), no change in 16 eyes(19%). The postoperative complications: uveitis in 26 eyes(31%), posterior capsular rupture in 14 eyes(17%), posterior capsular opacification in 21 eyes(25%), secondary glaucoma accounted in 13 eye(16%).

CONCLUSION: Because of long course, lepra reaction and persistent iritis, the leprosy patients are suffered from nerve damage and atretopsia, which make the surgery hard to complan, the complications increased, and the postoperative visual acuity is poor.