Cataract surgery in the very elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the outcome of cataract extraction in patients aged 85 years and older (>/=85 group) and to compare their outcome with that of patients younger than 85 years (</=84 group).


METHODS
Cataract surgeons participating in the Swedish National Cataract Outcome Study during 1995 to 1997.


METHODS
A prospective observational study was performed that evaluated patients' self-assessed visual function before and 6 months after cataract extraction. Mean age of the 4819 patients having cataract extraction at participating clinics during March 1995, 1996, and 1997 with complete follow-up data was 75.6 years; 67. 5% were women. Preoperative and intraoperative data were reported at the time of surgery. Final postoperative visual acuity, refraction, and keratometry were recorded. Each study period closed 6 months after surgery. The Catquest questionnaire was completed before surgery and 6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Of those with complete data, 757 patients (15.7%) were in the >/=85 group. In this group, visual acuity in the operative eye improved in 84.3% and a visual acuity of 0.5 or better was achieved in 71.4%. A no-benefit outcome, as defined by the Catquest questionnaire, was found in 12.7% of the >/=85 group and 8.4% of the </=84 group.


CONCLUSIONS
Elderly patients on average had a good outcome, although not as good as that in younger patients. Certain groups were identified as having an excellent result and others of having a high risk of an adverse outcome.
Lundström
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Blekinge Hospital, Karlskrona, Sweden.
Stenevi
U
U
Thorburn
W
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014792:Visual Acuity