Efficacy of Small Incision Cataract Surgery: A Multicenter Retrospective Study of Visual Outcomes in Coastal Ecuador

TL;DR

This study shows that a type of cataract surgery called SICS improves vision effectively in older adults in Ecuador, especially for those aged 60-69 and males.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the efficacy of SICS in a resource-limited setting, highlighting demographic factors linked to better outcomes.

Findings

SICS significantly improved postoperative visual acuity in both eyes of patients.

Ages 60-69 were associated with better outcomes in the right eye, and male sex was a protective factor for the left eye.

Diabetes and hypertension did not significantly affect postoperative visual outcomes.

Abstract

Cataracts remain one of the leading causes of reversible blindness in low- and middle-income countries such as Ecuador. This study assessed the efficacy of Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) and analyzed sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with postoperative visual outcomes. A retrospective multicenter analysis was conducted across six ophthalmology clinics along the Ecuadorian coast between 2023 and 2024, including 558 patients aged 30 years or older. Postoperative visual acuity, measured using the LogMAR scale, improved significantly (mean improvement of 0.525 LogMAR units in the right eye (OD) and 0.489 LogMAR units in the left eye; p < 0.001). Ages between 60 and 69 years were associated with better outcomes in the right eye, while male sex was a protective factor against poor visual acuity in the left eye. Although diabetes mellitus and hypertension were prevalent, neither condition showed a significant association with postoperative visual outcomes. The findings confirm that SICS is a safe, effective, and cost-efficient surgical approach for restoring vision in resource-limited settings, supporting its inclusion in national public health strategies to reduce avoidable blindness in developing countries.

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