Visual Outcome and Return to Work of Patients Operated on for Traumatic Cataract

Abstract

Objective: To determine the visual outcome of patients operated on for traumatic cataract and its effect on return to work.

Methods: A descriptive longitudinal study was carried out with 335 patients diagnosed with traumatic cataract, who attended microsurgery consultation at the Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. The variables examined included degree of visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity stratified in the preoperative and postoperative periods, final result, return to work and type of return to work.

Results: Visual acuity and visual recovery were evaluated in 335 patients who underwent traumatic cataract surgery. A significant improvement in postoperative visual acuity was observed in most of the patients, 90 % showed an improvement in visual acuity after the operation. 92.7 % with closed ocular trauma and 78.5 % with open ocular trauma were able to return to their pre-trauma work, reflecting a positive impact on their occupational and social reincorporation.

Conclusions: Surgical intervention of traumatic cataract not only leads to a significant improvement in vision, but also has a positive impact on patients' return to work and quality of life and social participation.