ABSTRACT.Purpose: To determine the long-term visual outcomes and causes of poor vision in the cataract population in Brazil treated in the Cataract-Free Zone Project. Methods: Project A subjects (62 patients) were recruited in Taquaritinga, SP, 26 months after surgery. Project B subjects (34 patients) were recruited in São João da Boa Vista, SP, 43 months after surgery. All patients underwent visual screening and eye examination (examination 1). They were classified according to visual acuity in the operated eye and the causes of poor vision were diagnosed and referred for treatment. The results of these interventions were collected (examination 2) and analysed by Chi-square test.
OBJECTIVESTo assess the influence of Nd:YAG (neodymium: yttrium-aluminum- garnet) laser unilateral posterior capsulotomy on visual acuity and patients’ perception of difficulties with vision-related activities of daily life.METHODSWe conducted an interventional survey that included 48 patients between 40 and 80 years of age with uni- or bilateral pseudophakia, posterior capsule opacification, and visual acuity ≤0.30 (logMAR) in one eye who were seen at a Brazilian university hospital. All patients underwent posterior capsulotomy using an Nd:YAG laser. Before and after the intervention, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire that was developed in an exploratory study.RESULTSBefore posterior capsulotomy, the median visual acuity (logMAR) of the included patients was 0.52 (range 0.30–1.60). After posterior capsulotomy, the median visual acuity of the included patients improved to 0.10 (range 0.0–0.52). According to the subjects’ perceptions, their ability to perform most of their daily life activities improved after the intervention (p<0.05).CONCLUSIONSAfter patients underwent posterior capsulotomy with an Nd:YAG laser, a significant improvement in the visual acuity of the treated eye was observed. Additionally, subjects felt that they experienced less difficulty performing most of their vision-dependent activities of daily living.
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