Visual outcomes and astigmatism after sutureless, manual cataract extraction in rural China: study of cataract outcomes and up-take of services (SCOUTS) in the caring is hip project, report 1.
OBJECTIVE
To study the visual acuity and astigmatism of persons undergoing cataract extraction by local surgeons in rural China.


METHODS
Visual acuity, keratometry, and refraction were measured 10 to 14 months postoperatively for all cataract cases during 4 months in Sanrao, China.


RESULTS
Among 313 eligible subjects, 242 (77%) could be contacted, of whom 176 (73%) were examined. Of those who were examined, mean +/- SD age was 69.3 +/- 10.5 years, 66.5% were female, 35 had been operated on bilaterally at Sanrao, and 85.2% had a preoperative presenting visual acuity of 6/60 or worse. Presenting and best-corrected postoperative acuity in the eye that was operated on were 6/18 or better in 83.4% and 95.7%, respectively. Among 27 fellow eyes operated on elsewhere, 40.7% had a presenting acuity of 6/18 or better and 40.7% were blind (P < .001). Mean +/- SD postoperative astigmatism did not differ between 211 eyes that were operated on (-1.13 +/- 0.84 diopters) and 109 eyes that were not (-1.13 +/- 1.17 diopters; P = .27). Presence of operative complications (8.5%) and older age were associated with worse vision; bilateral surgery was associated with better vision.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the effectiveness of skill transfer in this setting, with superior outcomes to most studies in rural Asia and to eyes in this cohort operated on at other facilities.
Lam
Dennis S C
DS
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. dennislam_pub@cuhk.edu.hk
Congdon
Nathan G
NG
Rao
Srinivas K
SK
Fan
Hoi
H
Liu
Yingpeng
Y
Zhang
Lishan
L
Lin
Xiaofang
X
Choi
Kai
K
Zheng
Zhongren
Z
Huang
Wenzhong
W
Zhou
Zhongxia
Z
Pang
Chi Pui
CP
D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*