Evaluation of Astigmatism Induced by Cataracte Surgery: 330 Cases. At The Sainte-Yvonne Ophtalmological Clinic in Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Abstract

Cataract is a public health problem in post-conflict underdeveloped countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the astigmatism induced is an economic burden for this same population. The aim of this study is to contribute to improving the management of cataract surgery patients. This is a descriptive, longitudinal, analytical study, which included 330 eyes of 238 adult patients aged 50 or over. Study variables: gender, age, type of procedure, eye involved, history, axial length, astigmatism, visual acuity, implant power, tunnel size, limbus distance, type of procedure (phacoalternative: PHACO A, phacoemulsification: PHACO E). Percentage, mean, standard deviation, Ficher's exact test, Chi-square, relative risk and 95% confidence interval were calculated. Patients aged between 70 and 79 years predominated (37%), with a sex ratio of 1.4 men. The mean value of surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) at D1 (DAY 1) was 1.9±1.8 D. And 57.6% of cases had an induced astigmatism < 1.7 D. For phacoemulsification at D30: 73.8% of cases had a mean surgically induced astigmatism < 1.7 D. And for phacoalternative at D30: 50.2% of cases had mean surgically induced astigmatism ≥ 1.7 D; and at D90 phacoalternative: 63.2% of patients had mean <1.8 D astigmatism. Induced astigmatism is an element influencing the functional outcome of cataract surgery, Induced astigmatism proves low in the majority of cases; although our functional results without correction remain below the threshold set by the World Health Organization.