Effectiveness of the Ocular Trauma Score to predict visual outcomes in traumatic cataract patients

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of the Ocular Trauma Score as a prognostic factor for final visual acuity in patients diagnosed with traumatic cataract.
Methods: A descriptive longitudinal evaluative study was conducted of a prognostic system in a series of 61 cases. The patients were divided into two groups according to the trauma mechanism. An analysis was performed of the relationship between visual acuity three months after cataract surgery and clinical and demographic variables. Visual outcome was predicted with the Ocular Trauma Score and then compared with the result obtained.
Results: Mean age of the patients studied was 52.8 (IR 44.0-63.0) years. Patients with a history of open trauma tended to be younger: 50.5 (IR: 43.0-54.0) years vs. 57.0 (IR: 45.5-65.5) years. A predominance was found of male sex (85.2%) and a low educational level (55.7%). Best corrected visual acuity was found to improve after surgery, particularly in patients with closed trauma. The Ocular Trauma Score predicted appropriately for visual acuity values of 20/40 or higher. Conclusions: Good results are obtained with the use of the Ocular Trauma Score as a prognostic factor for visual acuity in patients diagnosed with traumatic cataract.
Key words: Ocular Trauma Score; traumatic cataract; visual outcomes.