Abstract
This is a report of the results of a prospective series of manual sutureless extracapsular
cataract extraction on 161 eyes, performed at Taphanhin Crown Prince Hospital,
Phichit Province, in the period May 2006 - November 2007. The patients, aged 42 to 82
years (mean 68.9 years), had a preoperative visual acuity of less than 3/60 in 47.8 percent
of the cases (76 eyes). Of the 159 patients who returned for follow up, the visual acuity at
one month postoperatively was improved in 153 eyes (96.2 %), i.e., VA 6/18 or better in
42.1 percent, and 6/24 - 6/60 in 57.2 percent. When measured by pinhole, visual acuity
was 6/18 or better in 78.6 percent of the eyes. There was no major sight-threatening
complication; only minor surgical complications were encountered in 10 eyes (6.3%). In
conclusion, this intervention is cost-effective, appropriate and provides accessibility for
underserved cataract-blind patients in community hospitals. It also empowers health
personnel and should be implemented in other community hospitals or eye camps in
order to eliminate the backlog of such patients and improve the quality of life of the Thai
elderly in rural areas.
