Increase in cataract surgery prevalence from 1992-1994 to 1997-2000: analysis of two population cross-sections.
BACKGROUND
Monitoring temporal changes in the demand for and provision of cataract surgery will be useful to health planners to meet resource needs and to estimate likely costs. The aim of this report was to compare the prevalence of cataract surgery in two population cross-sections of the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES), over an interval of around 6 years.


METHODS
Cross-section I (n = 3654; mean age 66.2 years) consisted of BMES I participants (1992-1994). Cross-section II (n = 3509; mean age 66.7 years) consisted of BMES II (5-year) participants (n = 2335) plus persons who had moved into the area and age category since BMES I (n = 1174), so were newly eligible (1997-2000). Cataract surgery history was collected during interview and confirmed at examination.


RESULTS
Over this 6-year period, there was a 32% increase in cataract surgery prevalence from 6.0% to 7.9%, or from 6.0% to 7.7% after age standardization. The increase in eye-specific prevalence was 43% (from 4.4% to 6.3%). It was more marked among persons aged 80+ years and for bilateral (from 12.3% to 19.9%) than unilateral surgery (from 10.7% to 11.8%). Best-corrected visual acuity (mean letters read correctly) after surgery (43 and 44 letters, respectively) was similar between cross-sections I and II.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings from a representative older population confirm that prevalent cataract surgery has increased substantially over the average 6-year period, from 1992-1994 to 1997-2000.
Tan
Ava Grace
AG
University of Sydney Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute), Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Wang
Jie Jin
JJ
Rochtchina
Elena
E
Jakobsen
Kirsten B
KB
Mitchell
Paul
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014792:Visual Acuity