Systemic co-morbidities in patients undergoing cataract surgery

Abstract

Cataract is most common cause of blindness in the world. As it is an age related change, it is usually associated with other systemic illness. To assess the presence of systemic co morbidities found during routine preoperative evaluation in the patients undergoing cataract surgery at tertiary care hospital. Interventional study included patients attending the ophthalmology outpatient department who were operated for cataract surgery between Jun. 2019 and May. 2020 at tertiary health care centre. Out of 412 patients 147 (35.68%) had systemic co-morbidity and 66 had a presence of both systemic and ocular co-morbidity. Out of 147 patients with systemic co-morbidity hypertension was found in 79 (53.74%) patients while 47 (31.97%) presented with Diabetes Mellitus. Bronchial asthma and Ischemic heart disease was observed in 19 (12.93%) patients followed by stroke in 8 (5.44%) patients. Presence of systemic comorbidity increase the number of investigations needed for fitness of the patient for cataract surgery. Also it can cause intra operative complication and may affect surgical outcome.