Bilateral versus unilateral cataract extraction: Advantages and complications

Cataract extraction was performed on 734 patients. I hese were followed up postoperatively for up to 1 year. In 448 cases the extraction was performed in both eyes during 1 operating session (896 eyes) and in 1 eye in 286 cases, a total of 1182 cataract extractions. Preoperatively more than 75 % of the eyes in both groups had perception of light only. Postoperatively more than 85 % of eyes in both groups achieved a visual acuity of 6/30 or better. The postoperative visual performance of an eye was not influenced by the mode of operation, bilateral or unilateral. The overall incidence of complications among the 1182 operated eyes was: accidental extracapsular cataract extraction 10-2%, vitreous loss 11.0%, hyphaema 1-4%, flat anterior chamber 09%, dehiscence of the wound 0-5%, uveitis 1-2%, endophthalmitis 0-3%, secondary glaucoma 09 %, severe bullous keratopathy 1 4 %, oedema of the macula 0 5 %, and retinal detachment 0-3 %. The complications in both groups of patients were comparable. Only in 1 case operated in both eyes vision was not restored following a bilateral endophthalmitis.