Purpose: To assess clinical and therapeutic outcomes in traumatic cataracts.
Methods: Retrospective study of 20 cases of traumatic cataracts seen between 2001 and 2004. Mean age at diagnosis was 35 years (5-72 yr), 25% were infants. There were 11 women and 9 men. Extracapsular cataract extraction was performed in eighteen patients (90% of cases), 13 were implanted in posterior chamber, 3 having zonular rupture were implanted in anterior chamber. Two patients remained aphakic because of retinal lesions. Two patients with lens subluxation underwent intracapsular cataract extraction with anterior chamber implantation. The mean delay of surgery was 4 weeks.
Results: Overall satisfactory with 55% of final visual acuity more than 1/10. Visual acuity was better in implanted eyes, poorer in infants and after ocular perforation. Fibrinous uveitis was the common early postoperative complication especially in children.
Conclusion: The majority of eyes with traumatic cataract could be safely rehabilitated after surgery and lensimplantation. In traumatic cataract, the vision can be severely threatened, preventive methods should be encouraged.