Loupe Magnification for Small Incision Cataract Surgery - an Alternative to Microscope Magnification?

Abstract

A Prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to compare outcome of Small Incision
Cataract Surgery (SICS) using microscope or loupe magnification.
Two hundred fifty one patient with mature cataract were randomly allocated to SICS-Fishhook
Technique with either microscope (127 eyes) or loupe (124 eyes) magnification. Intra- and
postoperative complications and immediate visual outcome were analyzed.
Nearly two third (microscope 65% and magnifying loupe 62.9%) of all patients had good visual
outcome on first postoperative day. Poor outcome (<6/60) was recorded in 8% (microscope group)
and 7% (magnifying loupe group). Mean visual acuity with Snellen was 0.39 (SD 0.2) in microscope
group and 0.38 (SD 0.2) in magnifying loupe group. Intra operative complications were comparable
in both groups. Mean surgery time with loupe magnification was significantly shorter.
Comparatively equivalent good surgical outcome was achieved with loupe as well as with microscope
magnification. However performing SICS with loupe magnification is significantly faster. Small
incision cataract surgery with loupe magnification is safe and effective procedure for cataract surgery
so it can play a role in reducing cataract blindness in developing countries of the world.

Key words: loupe, magnification, microscopic, cataract, surgery