Phacoemulsification with topical and intracamerular anesthesia: Results of visual acuity and intra- and post-surgical complications

Facoemulsificación con anestesia tópica e intracamerular: Resultados de agudeza visual y complicaciones intra y postquirúrgicas

Objective: to evaluate the visual recovery in time and the relationship of the same with the presence of presurgical retinal pathology and / or intra and postoperative complications in patients operated on by means of phacoemulsification technique. Materials and methods: a retrospective descriptive investigation was conducted of a series of 130 eyes, which were taken by Dr. Mario Osorio to cataract surgery by phacoemulsification technique under topical and intracamerular anesthesia, between December 2002 and June 2005 at the Hospital de San José and Oftalmosánitas. We evaluated the recovery of GA over time, measured with Snellen card and the relationship between VA and pre-existing retinal pathology and / or surgical complications intra and post operative. Results: A quick recovery of VA was evidenced, obtaining a 20/20 CMVA in the postoperative month in 57% of the operated eyes and an AVI was reached at six months in a percentage of 68%. Eyes with opacity of the posterior capsule that were treated obtained final AV better or equal to 20/30. Those with macular edema obtained low final AV. Despite three ruptures of posterior capsule and vitreous intraoperative, recovery of VA in these patients was better at 20/25. Conclusions: the VA obtained over time demonstrates the great speed of visual recovery with this technique. Some intra and postoperative complications showed some relationship with the final VA. Abbreviations: AV, visual acuity; AVMC, better corrected visual acuity; AVI, equal visual acuity; POP, postoperative.

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