Safety and efficacy of temporal manual small incision cataract surgery in India.

PURPOSE: To assess safety and efficacy of temporal manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in context to visual outcome, astigmatism, and complications. METHODS: This involved sclerocorneal tunnel, capsulotomy, and hydrodissection. The incision was made with number 11 disposable surgical blade (costing Indian Rs. 2.50, $0.05). Nucleus extraction was done by phaco-sandwich method with the help of vectis and dialer. Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation was done according to biometric findings. A record of intraoperative and postoperative complications was made. The final postoperative assessment of astigmatism was done with spectacle correction on the 45th day as per the refraction findings. RESULTS: Two thousand eyes were operated by temporal, manual small incision sutureless technique. Uncorrected visual acuity was >6/18 in 1636 (81.7%) patients on the first postoperative day, in 1652 (82.6%) patients at 2 weeks, and in 1732 (88.6%) patients at 6 weeks. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) >6/18 was achieved in 1868 (93.4%) patients at 6 weeks, with 46 (2.3%) having BCVA <6/60, 24 (1.2%) of whom had preexisting retinal pathology. At 6 weeks, 1876 (93.8%) eyes had with-the-rule and 134 (6.2%) against-the-rule astigmatism (mean 0.7±1.25 D). Iris prolapse was noted in 3 (0.15%), wound leak in 3 (0.15%), and transient corneal edema in 136 (6.8%) eyes. Average surgery time was 6 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal SICS with number 11 disposable surgical blade and nucleus delivery by phaco-sandwich method gave excellent outcome with minimal astigmatism and low complication rate at economic cost.