A STUDY OF PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS IN VISUAL OUTCOME OF ADULT TRAUMATIC CATARACT

Introduction: One of the most common consequences of blunt and penetrating ocular trauma is traumatic cataracts. It remains a significant cause of visual impairment. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the analysis of prognostic indicators in the final visual outcome of adult traumatic cataracts. Methodology: The study was conducted on a total of 60 patients including 46 males and 14 females above the age of 18 years were diagnosed with traumatic cataracts. Data regarding demographics, causative agent, type of trauma, and clinical course was recorded, and along with it, the OTS (ocular trauma score) was calculated. The outcome was measured with subsequent follow-up in the form of BCVA at 40 days of surgery. Appropriate statistical tests were applied. Results: Penetrating injuries were sustained in 38 patients (63%) while 22 patients (37%) sustained blunt injuries to the eye. The most common affected age group was 30 – 60 years (60%) with male predilection (male to female ratio is 3.28:1). Commonest cause of trauma was road traffic accidents in 12 eyes (20%) followed by a thorn in 4 eyes (6.66%) and stone in 6 eyes (6.66%). In present study lens implantation, visual acuity at presentation, the morphology of cataract, and OTS were found to significantly affect visual outcome while trauma-surgery duration did not affect visual outcome. Conclusion: Traumatic cataracts mainly affected young males in our study. Better visual acuity at presentation, lens implantation after cataract extraction, and higher OTS correspond to higher visual acuity as recorded. Worse outcomes are seen with subluxated morphology. Trauma to surgery time interval is not a significant factor in the adult population.