[Relationship between phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction at University Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Hospital Center, during the 1997-2009 period].

The aim of the study was to show the relationship between phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction at University Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Hospital Center (assessing the length of postoperative hospital stay and postoperative visual acuity), during the 1997-2009 period. We also wanted to explore the tendency of using different types of intraocular lenses. The study was designed as a retrospective analysis of operative records. Data were collected on all patients operated for cataract at our Department during the study period. We compared the mean duration of postoperative hospital stay and mean postoperative visual acuity between 1997/1998 (more than 90% were treated with ECCE technique) and 2007/2008 (more than 90% were treated with PHACO technique). Information was also collected on the type of lenses implanted. The rate of cataract extraction by phacoemulsification was less than 10% in 1997/1998, then progressively rising to reach 99.2% in 2009. The mean hospital stay was 5.73 (range 2-19) days in 1997/1998 as compared with 1.99 (range 0.02-1) days in 2007/2008. The mean uncorrected postoperative visual acuity was 0.71 (range 0.01-1.0) in 2007/2008. In conclusion, the number of cataract patients operated on by the phacoemulsification technique progressively and significantly increased during the 1997-2009 period, confirming the method as the most acceptable and less traumatic technique that is applicable in most of cataract patients.