Long term clinical outcome of a randomised controlled trial of anterior chamber lenses after high volume intracapsular cataract surgery

BACKGROUND—Age related cataract remains the major cause of blindness throughout the world. In many countries, the majority of cataract surgery continues to be done by the intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE) method. The results of a large randomised controlled trial of multiflex open loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (ACIOL) were reported from a busy eye hospital in Nepal.
METHODS—There was a randomised controlled trial of 2000 people with bilateral cataract reducing vision to less than 6/36. Interventions were ICCE with an ACIOL compared with ICCE with aphakic spectacles (+11 dioptres). Participants were followed at discharge, 6 weeks, 1 year, and 11/2-5 years after surgery. Visual acuity and clinical outcome were measured. A poor outcome was defined as vision <6/60.
RESULTS—Visual outcome was comparable in the two groups. More of the control group experienced functional blindness due to loss of aphakic spectacles at 1 year. The majority of cases of poor outcome occurred in the first year after surgery. There was no indication of any lens related problems after 1 year.
CONCLUSION—Multiflex open loop anterior chamber lenses are safe for up to 1 year of follow up when used by experienced surgeons, and the available evidence of 2-5 years of follow up suggests that the complication rate is reasonably low. An ACIOL at the time of cataract surgery offers benefits over routine ICCE surgery with aphakic spectacle correction as it avoids the problem of replacing lost and broken spectacles.

     

婴幼儿先天性白内障术后视功能评价

目的 综合评价婴幼儿先天性白内障术后的视功能发育情况.方法 为回顾性系列病例研究.将先天性完全白内障患儿41例(62只眼)按年龄分为4组.A组:＜0.5岁,13例(20只眼);B组:≥0.5且＜1岁,11例(16只眼);C组:≥1岁且＜2岁,9例(15只眼);D组:≥2岁,8例(11只眼).均施行白内障吸除及双撕囊联合前段玻璃体切除手术,术后3 d使用Mini刺激器行闪光视觉诱发电位(F-VEP)检查,术后1周用维视顿视功能治疗和检查系统评价视力情况,随后配戴合适框架眼镜,遮盖健眼进行增视训练,12周后再次使用Mini刺激器行F-VEP检查以及视力检查.结果 4组患儿增视功能训练12周后的P100潜伏时分别为(90.28±1.59)、(111.30±1.59)、(125.28±1.97)、(147.87±1.46)ms,与术后3 d[(144.61±2.25)、(150.05±1.92)、(153.89±1.12)、(164.15±1.48)ms]比较明显缩短(t=43.75,32.77,31.61,65.04;P＜0.01).4组患儿增视功能训练12周后P100振幅分别为(12.65±0.25)、(10.56±0.05)、(9.06±0.40)、(8.71±0.02)Μv,与术后3 d[(3.41±0.06)、(4.60 ±0.10)、(4.70±0.27)、(5.00±0.01)Μv]比较明显增加(t=-376.05,-91.64,-507.77,-399.41;P＜0.01).视力检查亦显示,增视功能训练12周后视力(0.471 ±0.021、0.462 ±0.033、0.410±0.027、0.390 ±0.033)较术后1周(0.112±0.0127、0.107 ±0.013、0.117 ±0.014、0.120±0.014)明显提高(t=20.983,10.607,15.036,7.488;P＜0.05),且年龄段越小其视功能恢复越好,以A组患儿视功能恢复情况最好.结论 先天性白内障患者应尽早行手术治疗,术后配戴合适眼镜以及合适的增视功能训练,对于患者视功能的发育及重建具有重要意义.     

Evaluation of visual outcome of cataract surgery in an Indian eye camp

AIM: To evaluate the results of cataract surgery performed in a rural Indian eye camp. METHOD: The pre- and postoperative visual acuities and surgical complications were recorded prospectively in 6383 eyes undergoing cataract extraction for age related cataract in rural eye camps held in northern India in 1993-4. The best visual acuity and cause of poor outcome were recorded on 3908 eyes seen at 6 weeks' follow up. RESULTS: Of 6383 operated eyes 94.8% had a visual acuity of less than 3/60 preoperatively, and 41% of the procedures were performed on patients who were bilaterally blind (less than 3/60 better eye). At discharge with standard aphakic spherical spectacles, 11.3% of eyes had an acuity of less than 6/60 (poor outcome), and 25.9% had an acuity of 6/18 or better. At 6 weeks' follow up 3908 eyes were examined (61.2%), of which, with best correction, 4.3% had poor outcome (acuity of less than 6/60) and 79.9% obtained 6/18 or better. Pre-existing eye pathology was responsible for poor outcome in 3.0% of eyes and surgical complications in 1.3% of eyes, of which corneal decompensation was the major cause (0.5%). In 237 eyes which received an intraocular lens implantation (IOL) in the camp, the visual acuity at discharge was 6/18 or better in 44.5% of eyes improving to 87.9% in the 157 eyes which were seen at 6 weeks' follow up. Poor outcome (less than 6/60) was seen in 5.7% of the eyes with an IOL at discharge improving to 1.9% at follow up. CONCLUSION: This evaluation suggests that it is possible to obtain acceptable results from cataract extraction with experienced ophthalmologists in well conducted Indian eye camps. Better correction of aphakia at discharge from the camp would improve the immediate visual results, which is important as a significant number of patients do not return for follow up. The use of posterior chamber IOLs in the eye camp by experienced ophthalmologists, appeared to give satisfactory results, although further evaluation with a larger series of cases and more surgeons is required before it can be recommended.     

Dissatisfaction with cataract surgery in relation to visual results in a population-based study in Sweden.

PURPOSE: To evaluate dissatisfied patients and those with subjectively worse visual ability after cataract surgery and to analyze how these factors relate to poor visual acuity results (worse than 20/40). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Norrlands University Hospital, Ume?, Sweden. METHODS: A prospective, population-based study of cataract surgery outcome was conducted. All patients (459 surgeries) who had cataract surgery during a 1 year period were studied using self-administered questionnaires and data from patient records. Outcome measures were (1) patient degree of satisfaction with the result, (2) subjective visual ability after surgery of visually demanding tasks such as reading, television viewing, orientation in unfamiliar surroundings, and distance estimation far and near, and (3) visual acuity results. RESULTS: After surgery, 37 of the 459 cases (8%) were dissatisfied. These patients had a significantly lower age-corrected visual acuity in the operated eye than the satisfied patients (P < .0001). Ten percent said 1 or more visual ability was worse after their cataract surgery. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the visual acuity in the better eye before surgery and age-related maculopathy were the most significant risk factors. Poor visual acuity after surgery in the operated eye was found in 22%, mostly as a result of concurrent age-related maculopathy, diabetes, or glaucoma. Four percent had no improvement in visual acuity in the operated eye. CONCLUSIONS: Dissatisfaction seemed to rely mostly on visual acuity in the operated eye. Low visual acuity in the better eye before surgery and age-related maculopathy were the most significant risk factors for subjectively worse visual ability after surgery. The degree of satisfaction after cataract surgery and changes in visual ability differed in important ways from visual acuity as a measure of visual function.     

Long-Term Complications of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction with Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Implantation, in Nigeria

AIM: To identify the long-term complications of extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation surgery, in the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria. METHODS: The study is a retrospective review of patients that have had extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation, in the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, Nigeria from January 1996 to December 1999. The medical records of all patients that satisfy these criteria were retrieved. Information collected included age, sex, eye operated upon, intra-operative complications, pre-operative visual acuity and last follow-up, and long-term post-operative complications. RESULT: Medical records of only 66 patients (71 eyes) that maintained a minimum follow-up of at least one year were retrievable. No major intra-operative complications were recorded. Only one eye had posterior capsule rent. Ninety percent of the operated eyes had vision of 6/60 or better one year post-operative. The overall visual outcome (WHO criteria) was borderline. Of the corrected eyes, the consultants have a statistically significantly better outcome than residents. The following post-operative complications were recorded in 25 (35.2%) eyes: pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (11.3%); posterior capsular opacification (7.0%); persistent inflammation (7.0%); secondary glaucoma (2.8%); pupil distortion (5.6%); and ocular hypotony (1.4%). CONCLUSION: ECCE + PC-IOL microsurgery is associated with long-term complications like PBK (Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy) and PCO (Posterior capsular opacification). Their management creates new demands in our country. This study is limited by the small number of eyes eligible for review at least one year after surgery.     

Improvements in clinical and functional vision and quality of life after second eye cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a need for second eye cataract surgery or whether cataract surgery in one eye provides sufficiently adequate vision. METHODS: The vision of 43 patients was assessed using a battery of clinical vision tests, performance-based functional vision tests, and quality of life questionnaires, both before and a few months after cataract surgery. Twenty-five patients underwent second eye surgery and 18 patients underwent first-eye surgery. To determine whether cataract surgery returned vision to normal levels, a control group of 25 subjects of a similar age with normal, healthy eyes was also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, greater improvements occurred in most aspects of vision after first eye surgery than after second eye surgery. However, second eye surgery provided similar improvements in mobility orientation and self-reported night driving to those after first eye surgery, and substantially greater improvements in stereoacuity and reductions in anisometropia. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides additional evidence to support the need for second eye cataract surgery. Second eye surgery may be particularly important to improve mobility orientation and the avoidance of falls.     

Outcomes of extracapsular surgery in eye camps of eastern Nepal

BACKGROUND: Extracapsular cataract (ECCE) surgery is becoming increasingly popular in surgical eye camps of developing countries. This study assesses the outcome of 166 eyes at 6 weeks and 14 and 32 months after ECCE with and without implantation of intraocular lens in refugee camps of eastern Nepal. METHOD: All patients operated on in seven refugee camps during the 3 years before the assessment were included in the study population. Visual acuity, examination of anterior segment and posterior segments, and grading of capsular opacification using a standardised grading system were performed. RESULTS: Of 166 eyes examined, of which 49.4% were aphakic, 58% of eyes had very poor functional vision (WHO severe visual impairment-VA <6/60). After refraction and best correction 19% still had very poor vision. The aphakic eyes had both significantly poorer functional and best corrected vision than the pseudophakic eyes. In patients with intact posterior capsule clinically significant posterior capsular opacification was observed in over 10% of eyes at 14 months and 30% at 32 months. CONCLUSION: It was found that ECCE surgery in eye camps in this setting gave unacceptable outcomes because of a high rate of capsular rupture and posterior capsular opacification. Careful consideration should be given to the quality of the surgical set up and available resources and possibilities of postoperative follow up when ECCE is introduced in eye camps.     

Outcome and number of cataract surgeries in India: policy issues for blindness control

Purpose: To assess what impact attention to quality of cataract surgery and postoperative follow up can have on cataract blindness in India, and to estimate the number of surgeries needed to eliminate cataract blindness in India. Methods: In a population‐based sample of 5268 persons in two rural areas in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, data on the visual outcome of cataract surgery were obtained on 129 eyes of 106 persons operated previously. These were compared with the visual outcome of cataract surgery performed during 1999 in 2394 eyes of 2213 persons at two new rural eye centres set up in these areas that pay particular attention to the quality of eye care. Blindness in an eye was defined as presenting distance visual acuity less than 6/60, and in a person as this acuity level in the better eye. These data were extrapolated to India. Results: In the population‐based sample, of the 129 operated eyes, 51 (39.5%) were blind after surgery, which included 41 (31.8%) from cataract surgery‐related causes. Of the 106 persons in the population sample who had had cataract surgery in one or both eyes, 26 (24.5%) were still blind. In contrast, for the cataract surgery at the two rural eye centres paying attention to quality, 3.1% of the eyes and 1.8% of the persons were blind soon after surgery, but these figures could increase 2.6 times over the lifetime of these persons. The 3.5 million cataract surgeries in India in 2000 are estimated to result in 0.32 million persons having blindness averted over their lifetime. To eliminate cataract blindness in India, an estimated 9 million good‐quality cataract surgeries are needed every year during 2001?2005, increasing to over 14 million surgeries needed every year during 2016?2020 on persons most likely to go blind from cataract. Conclusions: The number of persons in whom blindness is being averted due to cataract surgery in India is currently a very small fraction of the number blind from cataract. If adequate attention is given to the quality of eye care, for the current number of cataract surgeries in India it should be possible to increase by threefold the number in whom blindness can be averted with cataract surgery. In addition to improving quality, the annual number of cataract surgeries has to be at least threefold the current number during 2006?2010 if cataract blindness in India is to be eliminated.     

Cataract surgery in Andhra Pradesh state, India: an investigation into uptake following outreach screening camps

PURPOSE: Prevalence of cataract related blindness and visual impairment is extremely high in India. Service utilization, on the contrary, is sub-optimal. Services offered through outreach screening are often not taken up. Against this background, the decision making processes leading to the uptake of cataract surgery services offered during outreach screening camps were investigated in people with cataract in India. METHODS: The study used an exploratory, qualitative approach. Sixty one cataract patients from two eye hospitals in Hyderabad, India, were interviewed using convenience sampling. Two focus group discussions with cataract patients and interviews with seven key informants helped triangulate the information. RESULTS: Lack of access to personal funds limited and delayed the utilization of offered services by patients who had been advised of surgery at outreach screening camps or eye hospitals. Stigma, fatalism and ageism were other limiting factors. The majority of patients did not make the decision regarding uptake of services themselves. Hearsay reports of the outcome of surgery and quality of services had a strong influence on service uptake. Women, particularly widows and those from rural areas, were least likely to use cataract surgery services. CONCLUSION: Provision of affordable and accessible eye care does not guarantee that the care or service will be utilized. Within the decision making process about cataract surgery, dependency on and importance of the wider family was found to be an often cited context of patients' decisions. Future research and programming activities need to put an emphasis on underserved groups, especially those who may be marginalized or disempowered.     

Cataract surgery in patients with diabetic retinopathy: Visual outcome, progression of diabetic retinopathy, and incidence of diabetic macular oedema

BACKGROUND: Compared to non-diabetic patients, outcome after cataract surgery was reported to be worse in diabetic patients--especially in those with diabetic retinopathy. This prospective study was planned to evaluate visual outcome, progression of diabetic retinopathy, and incidence of clinically significant macular oedema (CSME) in a homogenous group of patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) without CSME at baseline 1 year after cataract surgery. METHODS: Over a period of 18 months, all consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate diabetic retinopathy who had cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and posterior chamber lens implantation were prospectively followed up. Outcomes were assessed 1 year postoperatively and included visual acuity (VA), progression of retinopathy, and incidence of CSME. Progression of retinopathy and incidence of CSME were compared to the non-operated fellow eyes. RESULTS: Of 50 patients included, 42 completed the 1-year follow-up. VA improved in 85% of patients, and was better than 0,5 in 71%. Progression of retinopathy occurred in 12% of eyes after cataract surgery and in 10.8% of non-operated fellow eyes. No patient developed proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the operated eye. CSME occurred in 13 operated eyes (31%), five of them with retinal ischemia, and in five non-operated eyes (13.5%). Patients with ischemic macular oedema had the worst prognosis regarding VA. CONCLUSION: Modern cataract surgery seems to have no influence on the progression of diabetic retinopathy. A visual improvement is achieved in the majority of patients with NPDR, but poorer visual outcome is observed in patients developing macular oedema.     

Causes of poor outcome after cataract surgery in Satkhira district, Bangladesh

AimsRecent data have raised concerns about visual outcome following cataract surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and causes of poor and borderline outcome after cataract surgery in a population-based case series in Satkhira district, Bangladesh.MethodsA population-based case series was conducted within a population-based cluster survey of people aged over 50 years in Satkhira district where 4868 people underwent visual acuity (VA) screening. Eyes operated for cataract with VA<6/18 were examined in detail by an ophthalmologist, including a full history and dilated fundoscopy, to determine the cause of the visual outcome.ResultsCataract surgery was performed on 213 eyes. Outcome was good (VA>6/18) for 128 eyes (60.1%), borderline (VA<6/18 to 6/60) for 35 eyes (16.4%), and poor (VA<6/60) for 50 eyes (23.5%) with available correction. Borderline and poor outcomes were most commonly due to lack of spectacles (25.8%), poor selection (33.8%), or surgical complications (30.6%). Surgical sequelae, namely posterior capsule opacification, was a less common cause of poor or borderline outcome (9.7%).ConclusionsQuality of surgical outcomes is of concern in Satkhira district. Increased emphasis on selection of subjects for surgery, provision of spectacles, and monitoring of surgery may improve outcomes.Eye (2008) 22, 1054-1056; doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702836; published online 13 April 2007.     

Visual outcomes after cataract surgery and cataract surgical coverage in India

Visual outcomes of 2369 cataract operated persons(3655 eyes) across seven major Indian states were assessed in 1998. This is the largest ever study over the past decade in the country. 9.54 per cent of the examined population had undergone operation forcataract in one or both eyes. Intra-capsular cataract extraction was thecommonest surgical modality adopted (91.62%). Intraocular lens implantsresulted in better visual outcomes with 71.4 per cent of such patientsachieving a good visual outcome ( 6/18 in operated eyes). Visualoutcome was also good if ICCE operated patients were provided goodquality of aphakic spectacles. There were no gender differentials insurgical uptake rates. The risk of poor postsurgical visual outcomewas strongly associated by type of surgery (Adjusted OR for ICCE-2.78;95% CI: 1.41–5.49) and the non-availability or poor quality aphakic spectacles (Adjusted OR for poor/no spectacles 4.59-95% CI: 3.53–5.97). Duration since surgery and the source of surgery did not influence visual outcomes. Half thecataract blind remained unoperated in the study population.     

Extracapsular cataract surgery compared with manual small incision cataract surgery in community eye care setting in western India: a randomised controlled trial

AIM: To study "manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS)" for the rehabilitation of cataract visually impaired and blind patients in community based, high volume, eye hospital setting; to compare the safety and effectiveness of MSICS with conventional extracapsular cataract surgery (ECCE). METHODS: In a single masked randomised controlled clinical trial, 741 patients, aged 40-90 years, with operable cataract were randomly assigned to receive either MSICS or ECCE and operated upon by one of eight participating surgeons. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were graded and scored according to the Oxford Cataract Treatment and Evaluation Team recommendations. The patients were followed up at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 1 year after surgery and their visual acuity recorded. RESULTS: This paper reports outcomes at 1 and 6 weeks. 706 of the 741(95.3%) patients completed the 6 week follow up. 135 of 362 (37.3%) of ECCE group and 165 of 344 (47.9%) of MSICS group had uncorrected visual acuity of 6/18 or better after 6 weeks of follow up. 314 of 362 (86.7%) of ECCE group and 309 of 344 (89.8%) of MSICS group had corrected postoperative vision of 6/18 or better. Four of 362 (1.1%) of ECCE group and six of 344 (1.7%) of MSICS group had corrected postoperative visual acuity less than 6/60. There were no significant differences between the two groups for intraoperative and severe postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: MSICS and ECCE are both safe and effective techniques for treatment of cataract patients in community eye care settings. MSICS needs similar equipment to ECCE, but gives better uncorrected vision.     

白内障手术引起另眼葡萄膜反应的临床观察

目的观察一眼白内障术后,行另眼手术时引起先手术眼的反应情况。方法对分次行双眼白内障摘出人工晶状体植入术的320例,观察其双眼术后反应情况及程度。结果有后手术眼术后出现先手术眼的前葡萄膜炎4例,并于治疗1周后恢复,对视力无影响。结论双眼白内障手术,后手术眼可引起先手术眼的晶状体相关性葡萄膜炎,且早期治疗效果良好。     

Preoperative visual acuity of people undergoing cataract surgery in rural and urban Nepal

Background: Preoperative presenting visual acuity (PPVA) is not a commonly reported indicator for the delivery of cataract services. This study aimed to evaluate the PPVA of patients undergoing cataract surgery in rural and urban areas of Nepal. Design: A prospective, non‐interventional study conducted from October 2007 to March 2008 in a tertiary hospital and outreach clinics of Nepal. Participants: A total of 3023 consecutive subjects from urban and rural settings (1323 from the tertiary hospital and1700 from outreach clinics) with cataract were included. Methods: Visual acuity was tested with a Snellen E‐chart at 6 m by ophthalmic assistants. All Outreach Microsurgical Eye Clinic patients were examined by either ophthalmologists or senior ophthalmic assistants. Patients at the Tertiary Eye Care Centre were examined only by ophthalmologists. Main Outcome Measures: Preoperative presenting visual acuity of patients undergoing cataract surgery was measured in both the settings. Results: The sex ratio was 0.96 (male/female). Based on PPVA, 11.5% of patients operated were blind (PPVA < 3/60 in the better eye). The proportion of blind people operated was similar in rural (11.4%) to urban (11.6%) areas. The proportion of blind eyes operated was higher in rural (50.7%) compared to urban (38.9%) areas. Conclusion: Despite a comparatively high volume of cataract surgery carried out in Nepal every year, only about one in eight patients operated for cataract in the sample population was blind. PPVA is an important indicator for the progress towards eliminating cataract blindness.     

Cataract Surgery in Andhra Pradesh State,India: An Investigation into Uptake Following Outreach Screening Camps

Purpose: Prevalence of cataract related blindness and visual impairment is extremely high in India. Service utilization, on the contrary, is sub-optimal. Services offered through outreach screening are often not taken up. Against this background, the decision making processes leading to the uptake of cataract surgery services offered during outreach screening camps were investigated in people with cataract in India. Methods: The study used an exploratory, qualitative approach. Sixty one cataract patients from two eye hospitals in Hyderabad, India, were interviewed using convenience sampling. Two focus group discussions with cataract patients and interviews with seven key informants helped triangulate the information. Results: Lack of access to personal funds limited and delayed the utilization of offered services by patients who had been advised of surgery at outreach screening camps or eye hospitals. Stigma, fatalism and ageism were other limiting factors. The majority of patients did not make the decision regarding uptake of services themselves. Hearsay reports of the outcome of surgery and quality of services had a strong influence on service uptake. Women, particularly widows and those from rural areas, were least likely to use cataract surgery services. Conclusion: Provision of affordable and accessible eye care does not guarantee that the care or service will be utilized. Within the decision making process about cataract surgery, dependency on and importance of the wider family was found to be an often cited context of patients' decisions. Future research and programming activities need to put an emphasis on underserved groups, especially those who may be marginalized or disempowered.     

Intraocular gentamicin as intraoperative prophylaxis in South India eye camps.

The incidence of bacterial endophthalmitis has been 3-6% after cataract extraction in the eye camps of South India from 1961-75. During this time 50 791 cases were operated using systemic and topical chloramphenicol prophylaxis. This study evaluated the prophylactic intracameral injection of 50 microng of gentamicin in eye camp cataract extractions. Only 6 of 1626 patients treated with intracameral gentamicin at operation developed bacterial endophthalmitis, an incidence of 0-37%.     

单眼先天性白内障早期手术的疗效分析

目的 观察儿童单眼先天性白内障早期手术的疗效。方法 用针吸灌注法对18例患儿手术摘除白内障，术后配镜，健眼包盖。结果 术后5例获得最好视力0．5或0．5以上(28％)，6例0．25～0．4(33％)，4例0．1～0．2(22％)，3例低于0．1(17％)，随防时间4．5～10年。结论 单眼先天性白内障的患儿，在19周前早期手术可获得较好视力0．5或0．5以上，1周岁左右儿童术后所得视力仅为0．1～0．2，早期手术是防止形觉剥夺性弱视的关键，适时屈光矫正也很重要。     

Cataract surgical outcome at the Vancouver Eye Care Centre: can it be predicted using current data?

BACKGROUND: Patients selected for cataract surgery have an increasingly wider range of coexisting ocular and systemic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative patient characteristics can assist surgeons in identifying patients who are at increased risk of having little or no improvement in visual outcome after cataract surgery. METHODS: We prospectively studied a randomly selected subset (20%) of patients with cataract undergoing cataract extraction at a tertiary centre in Vancouver. There were no patient exclusion criteria. Pre-, intra- and postoperative clinical data were collected from medical records. RESULTS: We studied 1329 cataract surgical procedures from March 1999 to December 2000. Of the 1329, 851 had complete pre- and postoperative visual acuity data. The mean age of the 851 patients was 73.2 (standard deviation 10.6) years, 575 (67.6%) were women, and 472 procedures (55.5%) were first-eye procedures. Preoperatively, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 146 eyes (17.2%), 20/50 in 173 (20.3%), 20/60 to 20/70 in 248 (29.1%), and 20/80 or worse in 284 (33.4%). Almost half of the patients (419 [49.2%]) had at least one coexisting eye disease in the operated eye. At about 3 months postoperatively, the best-corrected visual acuity had improved in 786 eyes (92.4%), remained the same in 42 (4.9%) and had worsened in 23 (2.7%). Of the 23 eyes with worse visual acuity, half had preoperative visual acuity of 20/40 or better; most of the remaining eyes had preoperative vision of 20/50 to 20/70. Of the 42 eyes with unchanged vision, 22 (52%) had preoperative visual acuity worse than 20/100; the remaining eyes were distributed across the visual acuity range. An increase of 1 year of age increased the odds of having a poor visual acuity outcome by 2% to 4%. Worse preoperative visual acuity predicted an increased likelihood of a poor outcome; this effect increased sharply for eyes with preoperative visual acuity of 20/80 or worse. After adjustment for age and preoperative visual acuity, patients with three or more coexisting eye diseases in the operated eye were 10 to 24 times more likely to have the worst postoperative visual acuity. INTERPRETATION: The presence and number of coexisting ocular diseases, increased age and poor preoperative visual acuity predicted an unchanged or worse visual acuity after cataract surgery.