RESUMO
PURPOSE: To assess the complication rates and visual outcomes of manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) in a university teaching hospital setting. METHOD: Retrospective audit encompassing a 3-year period looking at the visual outcomes, and intraoperative and postoperative complications of planned MSICS performed on brunescent cataracts. RESULTS: MSICS was performed in 55 eyes of 49 patients. Intraoperatively, zonular dehiscence without vitreous loss occurred in one eye (1.8%), and vitreous loss occurred in one eye (1.8%). Postoperative complications occurred in seven eyes (12.7%). The most common complication was raised intraocular pressure (three eyes, 5.5%). None developed endophthalmitis or dropped nucleus. Mean follow-up duration was 10.0 weeks. In 49 eyes (89.1%), vision improved postoperatively. Sixty five percent achieved a best-corrected vision of 6/12 or better. The mean postoperative astigmatism was significantly higher than preoperatively (1.40D vs. 0.99D, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: MSICS is safe and effective for dense and brunescent cataracts in a UK university hospital setting. However, it was associated with a statistically significant increase in astigmatism postoperatively.