Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the visual outcome and accuracy of biometry in traumatic cataract in open-globe injury.
Methods: A clinical retrospective study of 30 consecutive patients treated for ocular penetrating trauma was conducted. Patient demographics, causes of injury, wound categories, timing and procedures of the primary repair, interval of subsequent intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, follow-up, and postoperative complications were recorded. Additionally, binocular biometry was documented. Twenty-six eyes (86.7%) were open-globe injuries occurring in the workplace. All patients received cataract extraction with primary repair of the penetrating wound, 18 eyes (60%) underwent trans pars plana vitrectomy with lensectomy and 12 eyes (40%) underwent lens aspiration or extracapsular cataract extraction. Simultaneously, 16 eyes (53.3%) underwent intraocular foreign body removal.
Results: The mean visual improvement after secondary IOL implantation was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Seventeen eyes (56.7%) achieved final best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The mean deviation of final refraction and target refraction was -0.69 +/- 0.56 diopter, and 23 eyes (76.7%) were within 1 diopter based on biometry of the traumatic eye. In 18 eyes (60%), the difference was within 1 diopter according to biometry of the fellow eye. In 5 cases (16.7%), there was no improvement of vision because of central corneal scar, secondary glaucoma, macular pucker, or recurrent retinal detachment.
Interpretation: The vision of patients with traumatic cataract in open-globe injury was improved after prompt surgical intervention and subsequent IOL implantation. A minority of patients experienced no change in vision or a deterioration of vision due to irregular astigmatism caused by a corneal wound or variable damage to the posterior segment. Using biometry of the injured eye after primary repair was more accurate than using biometry of the fellow eye to determine the power of the lens for IOL implantation in variable open-globe injury.