title: The role of demographic characteristics in the outcomes of cataract surgery and gender roles in the uptake of postoperative eye care: a hospital-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of demographic characteristics on the outcomes of cataract surgery in terms of visual acuity and patient satisfaction, and gender role in the uptake of postoperative care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comprehensive ocular examinations were performed on 478 subjects (558 eyes) over the age of 50 years who underwent surgery for age-related cataract at the largest eye hospital in Iran. Demographic characteristics were obtained and surgical records were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male subjects had significantly better outcomes in terms of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) (mean difference 0.12 and 0.13 logMAR; p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Women were significantly less satisfied than men (73.2% vs. 83.6%; p = 0.011). Postoperative UCVA and BSCVA were better in patients with higher levels of education (both p < 0.001). Age had an inverse association with UCVA (p = 0.004) and BSCVA (p < 0.001). Women were twice as likely to need capsulotomy (p = 0.002). Men's uptake of postoperative refractive care was 4-fold that of women's (31% vs. 7%). In multivariable analyses, age, sex, education, presence of ocular comorbidity and need for capsulotomy, spectacle prescription and other care were associated with postoperative UCVA (all p < 0.05; adjusted R(2) = 0.256).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female patients were shown to be at a clear disadvantage in cataract surgery; outcomes of the procedure and postoperative care were both poorer. Older age, lower level of education, ocular comorbidity and unmet postoperative need were also associated with a poorer outcome.
authors: Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Hashemi
authors: Seyed-Farzad
authors: SF
authors: Mohammadi
authors: Hadi
authors: H
authors: Z-Mehrjardi
authors: Mercede
authors: M
authors: Majdi
authors: Elham
authors: E
authors: Ashrafi
authors: Shiva
authors: S
authors: Mehravaran
authors: Arash
authors: A
authors: Mazouri
authors: Ramak
authors: R
authors: Roohipoor
authors: Mehdi
authors: M
authors: KhabazKhoob
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D058442:Capsule Opacification / Q000601:surgery; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004522:Educational Status; D005139:Eyeglasses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D057852:Posterior Capsule of the Lens; D011182:Postoperative Care; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*