FREQUENCY OF HEPATITIS B AND C IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CATARACT SURGERY IN A TERTIARY CARE EYE HOSPITAL

Objective: To assess frequency of Hepatitis B and C infection in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2018 to Jan 2020. Methodology: Pre operatively patients were subjected to detail ocular examination for cataract evaluation.Patient under 20 years of age, complicated cataract, uveitis, retinal detachment, previous history of ocular surgery or neurosurgery, treatment with systemic medication causing ocular side effects were excluded from study. Preoperatively hepatitis B and C screening was performed for all enrolled patients. The findings were recorded on data sheets and analyzed through statistical software system (SPSS) version 20. Results: Out of 4671 patients, 35 (0.74%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 146 (3.1%)were positive for hepatitis C antibody (HCVAb). Eight (22.8%) females and 27 (77.17%) males were positive forHBsAg. Fifty seven (39.04%) females and 88 (60.96%) males were found to be HCVAb positive. It clearly showshigher prevalence of hepatitis in males. Twenty three (65%) of patient with hepatitis B virus and 80 (54.8%) ofpatients with hepatitis C virus had nuclear sclerosis cataract as compared to 51% of non-infected patients. Conclusion: Screening of hepatitis B and C is mandatory in order to prevent health care associated hepatitisinfection. There has been a role of inflammation due to hepatitis in development of cataract. Further studies may elaborate it vividly.