Visual outcome of cataract surgery by phacoemulsification in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients: A comparative study

This study aims to evaluate and compare the results of phacoemulsification cataract surgery performed on diabetic patients with those of non-diabetic patients. The primary objective was to compare the visual outcome of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in diabetic patients and non-diabetic patients, and the secondary objective was todetermine the final visual outcome following phacoemulsification cataract surgery in diabetics and non-diabetics. A comparative study of the overall 300 eyes of the patients, in which 150 eyes were diabetic and 150 eyes were non-diabetic, underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery with posterior chamber intra ocular lens implantation. Age, sex, follow-up, preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity and post-operative complications were evaluated. Out of the 300 eyes of the patients, 150 eyes were diabetic and 150 eyes were non-diabetics. Phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intra ocular lens implantation was done in all patients. Follow up duration was 6 weeks. Postoperatively, 6 weeks after surgery, 31.7% of patients had BCVA of 6/9 or better in diabetic group while 36.3% of patients had BCVA of 6/9 or better in non-diabetic group. The difference in BCVA between two groups at postoperative 6 weeks was found to be statistically significant p value of <0.001. Post-operative complications included wound leak, striate keratopathy, folds in descemets membrane, corneal haze or edema, iritis, posterior capsular rent, cystoid macular edema, iridodialysis. The incidence was higher in the diabetic group as compared to non-diabetics. Overall, the final visual outcome was better in non-diabetic group as compared to diabetic group. Diabetics are more likely to develop intra operative and postoperative complications. Thus, special care should be used both throughout the surgical procedure and the post-operative period.