Comparative study of final visual outcome between open- and closed-globe injuries following surgical treatment of traumatic cataract.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work is to compare final visual outcomes in cases of surgically treated traumatic cataract between open-globe and closed-globe groups, as classified by the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology system.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary eye-care center at the trijunction of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states in central western India.

METHODS

We enrolled patients meeting specific inclusion criteria, examined their eyes to review any co-morbidities due to trauma, performed surgery for traumatic cataracts, and implanted lenses. The patients were re-examined 6 weeks postoperatively. We classified the cases of traumatic cataract as either open-globe (group 1) or closed-globe (group 2), according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) system, and compared visual acuity.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual Acuity.

RESULTS

Our cohort of 687 eyes with traumatic cataracts included 496 eyes in group 1 and 191 in group 2. Six weeks postoperatively, the visual acuity was >20/60 in 298 (58%) and 75 (39.1%) operated eyes in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001, ANOVA). At follow-up, >20/60 vision was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 0.85-3.02). Overall, 373 eyes (54.3%) regained final visual acuity >20/60.

CONCLUSIONS

Open-globe injury has a more favorable prognosis for satisfactory (>20/60) visual recovery after management of traumatic cataracts.