CATARACT SURGERY

Objectives: This study is conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis Band hepatitis C virus infection in patients presenting for cataract surgery and to see the pattern ofliver function tests in hepatitis positive and negative patients. Design: Descriptive study, Settingand Period: The study was conducted from September 2015 to February 2016 at Al-Shifa eyehospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Methods: All the patients presenting for cataract surgery wereincluded in the study. Liver function tests were performed using automatic chemistry analyzerwhile hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to hepatitis C virus were checked using thirdgeneration ELISA. Results: A total of 315 patients were included in the study. Male to femaleratio was 1.18:1. Out of these 315 cases, there were 45 (14.29%) patients who tested positivefor hepatitis and all of these 45 cases were positive for anti-HCV antibodies with 18 (40%) malesand 27 (60%) females, showing high predilection for female gender. Majority of patients, about171 (54.29%), were in the age range of 21-40 years, followed by 57 (18.10%) patients in theage group of 40-50 years. The mean age of hepatitis positive patients was 33.33±13.37 years.Regarding liver function tests, the alanine transaminase levels (ALT) were 77.9 and 132 U/L inhepatitis negative and hepatitis positive patients respectively. Enzyme levels were 1.65 timeshigher in hepatitis positive patients than in hepatitis negative patients. Rest of the parameterswas within normal limits. Conclusion: Hepatitis B and C virus infections are common cause ofliver dysfunction in our country. Hepatitis C virus infection is more prevalent than Hepatitis Bvirus infection. Hepatitis infection can lead to raised ALT levels even when other parameters ofliver function tests are within normal limits. Therefore, all patients who have raised ALT levelsmust undergo hepatitis screening.