ABSTRACT
K/D,sH! Purpose: To quantify the prevalence of cataract, the outcomes
>v
k?wY^f of cataract surgery and the factors related to
[+
N 5 unoperated cataract in Australia.
tbq_Rg7s Methods: Participants were recruited from the Visual
^#,cWG}z Impairment Project: a cluster, stratified sample of more than
Xb5$ijH 5000 Victorians aged 40 years and over. At examination
I.L8A|nZ sites interviews, clinical examinations and lens photography
]zR,Y=
# were performed. Cataract was defined in participants who
F<^93a9 had: had previous cataract surgery, cortical cataract greater
QAK.Qk?Qu than 4/16, nuclear greater than Wilmer standard 2, or
f')3~)" posterior subcapsular greater than 1 mm2.
'P,F)*kh Results: The participant group comprised 3271 Melbourne
)`gE-udR residents, 403 Melbourne nursing home residents and 1473
~zA{=|I2 rural residents.The weighted rate of any cataract in Victoria
aShZdeC*f was 21.5%. The overall weighted rate of prior cataract
,O}2LaK.O surgery was 3.79%. Two hundred and forty-nine eyes had
`<kV)d%xEF had prior cataract surgery. Of these 249 procedures, 49
C%+>uzVIw (20%) were aphakic, 6 (2.4%) had anterior chamber
n\D3EP<s intraocular lenses and 194 (78%) had posterior chamber
D$[/|%3 intraocular lenses.Two hundred and eleven of these operated
4!r>
^a eyes (85%) had best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or
Y2Y!^A89 better, the legal requirement for a driver’s license.Twentyseven
DUK.-|a7 (11%) had visual acuity of less than 6/18 (moderate
ds9`AiCW> vision impairment). Complications of cataract surgery
Bt^];DjH caused reduced vision in four of the 27 eyes (15%), or 1.9%
G
]mX+? of operated eyes. Three of these four eyes had undergone
I NE,/a= intracapsular cataract extraction and the fourth eye had an
TAu*lL(F opaque posterior capsule. No one had bilateral vision
pY9>z;qD impairment as a result of cataract surgery. Surprisingly, no
FE/2.!]&o particular demographic factors (such as age, gender, rural
oFeflcSz residence, occupation, employment status, health insurance
Eh)VU_D status, ethnicity) were related to the presence of unoperated
fJ3qL#' cataract.
S-:7P.#Q Conclusions: Although the overall prevalence of cataract is
8c'0"G@S quite high, no particular subgroup is systematically underserviced
_(\\>'1q! in terms of cataract surgery. Overall, the results of
Px4zI9;cB cataract surgery are very good, with the majority of eyes
Gr;~P* achieving driving vision following cataract extraction.
V8xv@G{; Key words: cataract extraction, health planning, health
wzMWuA4vX services accessibility, prevalence
n~d`PGs?f INTRODUCTION
| We @p Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and, in
*X;g
Y Australia, cataract extractions account for the majority of all
~QsQ7SAs ophthalmic procedures.1 Over the period 1985–94, the rate
Ffm Q$>S of cataract surgery in Australia was twice as high as would be
LE Y Y{G? expected from the growth in the elderly population.1
ZX.VzZS Although there have been a number of studies reporting
XY|-qd}A the prevalence of cataract in various populations,2–6 there is
S@7A) little information about determinants of cataract surgery in
`4&\ %9 the population. A previous survey of Australian ophthalmologists
*
qG=p` showed that patient concern and lifestyle, rather
yg2~qa:dZ than visual acuity itself, are the primary factors for referral
kkrQ;i)Z for cataract surgery.7 This supports prior research which has
PSHs<Z47 shown that visual acuity is not a strong predictor of need for
;8g#"p*& cataract surgery.8,9 Elsewhere, socioeconomic status has
]'_z(s} been shown to be related to cataract surgery rates.10
-JZl?hY( To appropriately plan health care services, information is
M14_w
, needed about the prevalence of age-related cataract in the
$vy.BYFm community as well as the factors associated with cataract
F;ONo.v; surgery. The purpose of this study is to quantify the prevalence
=10t3nA1$ of any cataract in Australia, to describe the factors
2%W(^Lj related to unoperated cataract in the community and to
mk4%]t" describe the visual outcomes of cataract surgery.
o-O/M S METHODS
~*B1}#; Study population
DO03v
N Details about the study methodology for the Visual
{.,OPR"\ Impairment Project have been published previously.11
5Ij_$
a Briefly, cluster sampling within three strata was employed to
g>im2AD+e recruit subjects aged 40 years and over to participate.
?>o39|M_w Within the Melbourne Statistical Division, nine pairs of
Wt3\&.n census collector districts were randomly selected. Fourteen
WejY
b;KS nursing homes within a 5 km radius of these nine test sites
~4`wfOvO were randomly chosen to recruit nursing home residents.
*Nt6 Ufq6 Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2000) 28, 77–82
R9CAw>s Original Article
ldX]A#d. Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia
D9LwYftZ Catherine A McCarty PhD, MPH, Mukesh B Nanjan PhD, Hugh R Taylor MD
56bB~=c Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
X2e|[MWkp n Correspondence: Dr Cathy McCarty MPH, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, 32 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne,
"Z{^i3gN Victoria 3002, Australia. Email:
cathy@cera.unimelb.edu.au gN]`$==c[ 78 McCarty et al.
5%>U.X?i Finally, four pairs of census collector districts in four rural
yQx>h6 Victorian communities were randomly selected to recruit rural
ifgaBXT55 residents. A household census was conducted to identify
cn\_;TYiJ eligible residents aged 40 years and over who had been a
B\=&v8 resident at that address for at least 6 months. At the time of
8@qahEgQ the household census, basic information about age, sex,
ZbGyl}8ua country of birth, language spoken at home, education, use of
*"4<&F
S corrective spectacles and use of eye care services was collected.
qe$K6A %Yd Eligible residents were then invited to attend a local
ji8Rd"S examination site for a more detailed interview and examination.
n)=&=Uj`f The study protocol was approved by the Royal Victorian
vB
Jva8;Q Eye and Ear Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee.
sS|zz,y Assessment of cataract
95<:-?4C;W A standardized ophthalmic examination was performed after
zV&3l9?U pupil dilatation with one drop of 10% phenylephrine
PT4`1Oy}/1 hydrochloride. Lens opacities were graded clinically at the
L9kP8&&KK time of the examination and subsequently from photos using
@<PL the Wilmer cataract photo-grading system.12 Cortical and
TB[vpTC9) posterior subcapsular (PSC) opacities were assessed on
`Q8 D[ retroillumination and measured as the proportion (in 1/16)
\e:FmG of pupil circumference occupied by opacity. For this analysis,
(2S!$w% cortical cataract was defined as 4/16 or greater opacity,
oyN+pFVB:$ PSC cataract was defined as opacity equal to or greater than
jO
&f*
rxN 1 mm2 and nuclear cataract was defined as opacity equal to
i[ Gw7'f or greater than Wilmer standard 2,12 independent of visual
0J:U\
S acuity. Examples of the minimum opacities defined as cortical,
)|Vg/S nuclear and PSC cataract are presented in Figure 1.
SEQO2`]e: Bilateral congenital cataracts or cataracts secondary to
}U?gKlLg intraocular inflammation or trauma were excluded from the
1!;"bHpk analysis. Two cases of bilateral secondary cataract and eight
U/3e,`c cases of bilateral congenital cataract were excluded from the
.}$`+h8WT analyses.
Pzk[^z$C A Topcon® SL5 photo slit-lamp (Topcon America Corp.,
^i`3cCFB< Paramus, NJ, USA) with a 0.1 mm slit beam of 9.0 mm in
e<L 9k}c height set to an incident angle of 30° was used for examinations.
lrmt)BLoh Ektachrome® 200 ASA colour slide film (Eastman
0{"dI;b% Kodak Company, Rochester, NY, USA) was used to photograph
(}*\ { the nuclear opacities. The cortical opacities were
hpqHllL photographed with an Oxford® retroillumination camera
~51kiQW (Marcher Enterprises Ltd, Hereford, UK) and T-MAX® 400
+eDN,iv film (Eastman Kodak). Photographs were graded separately
iJCY /*C} by two research assistants and discrepancies were adjudicated
Io,/ +#| by an independent reviewer. Any discrepancies
q#Yg0w~ between the clinical grades and the photograph grades were
GG@I!2,_ resolved. Except in cases where photographs were missing,
w|
-0@ the photograph grades were used in the analyses. Photograph
5A2Y'ms,/ grades were available for 4301 (84%) for cortical
D% v:PYf cataract, 4147 (81%) for nuclear cataract and 4303 (84%)
fw1;i for PSC cataract. Cataract status was classified according to
u
n?j the severity of the opacity in the worse eye.
d5w_[=9U Assessment of risk factors
jpYw#]Q A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information
ny!lja5[ about education, employment and ethnic background.11
wc6
E-rB
Specific information was elicited on the occurrence, duration
' D)1ka. and treatment of a number of medical conditions,
2p$n*|T&c including ocular trauma, arthritis, diabetes, gout, hypertension
<O,'5+zG% and mental illness. Information about the use, dose and
RlI
W&y duration of tobacco, alcohol, analgesics and steriods were
S 0R8'Y collected, and a food frequency questionnaire was used to
;-3h ~k determine current consumption of dietary sources of antioxidants
<_BqpZ^` and use of vitamin supplements.
RJtixuvh@ Data management and statistical analysis
CbTf"pl Data were collected either by direct computer entry with a
"jl1.Ah questionnaire programmed in Paradox© (Carel Corporation,
&K9VEMCEX Ottawa, Canada) with internal consistency checks, or
5z
9r S< on self-coding forms. Open-ended responses were coded at
'`M#UuU a later time. Data that were entered on the self-coded forms
kdK*MUB were entered into a computer with double data entry and
S_(&UeTC reconciliation of any inconsistencies. Data range and consistency
cOzg/~\1 checks were performed on the entire data set.
!pd7@FwC SAS© version 6.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina) was
;el]LnV!O employed for statistical analyses.
q
Axf5 Ninety-five per cent confidence limits around the agespecific
Tjd&
^m rates were calculated according to Cochran13 to
4u3 \xR?w6 account for the effect of the cluster sampling. Ninety-five
+ 6x"trC per cent confidence limits around age-standardized rates
q1N4X7<_ were calculated according to Breslow and Day.14 The strataspecific
68vxI|EZ data were weighted according to the 1996
S 3{Dn Australian Bureau of Statistics census data15 to reflect the
euRCBzc cataract prevalence in the entire Victorian population.
umJay/> Univariate analyses with Student’s t-tests and chi-squared
,$HHaoog tests were first employed to evaluate risk factors for unoperated
o8w-$
Qb cataract. Any factors with P < 0.10 were then fitted
-0A@38, } into a backwards stepwise logistic regression model. For the
ot-(4Y Figure 1. Minimum levels of cortical (a), nuclear (b), and posterior subcapsular (c) cataract.
H"2 U)HJl final multivariate models, P < 0.05 was considered statistically
48lzOG significant. Design effect was assessed through the use
S/a/1n$ U of cluster-specific models and multivariate models. The
6o$Z0mG design effect was assumed to be additive and an adjustment
"EJ\]S]$X made in the variance by adding the variance associated with
0Wa#lkn$I the design effect prior to constructing the 95% confidence
lTn;3' limits.
5r'=O2AZX RESULTS
w(aUEWYL Study population
72`/d` A total of 3271 (83%) of the Melbourne residents, 403
fwRGT|":B (90%) Melbourne nursing home residents, and 1473 (92%)
1Pu
, :Jt rural residents participated. In general, non-participants did
;F|jG}M" not differ from participants.16 The study population was
;9K[~ representative of the Victorian population and Australia as
&u&2D$K,tp a whole.
HS7R lU^ The Melbourne residents ranged in age from 40 to
{>S4#^@} 98 years (mean = 59) and 1511 (46%) were male. The
p#)e:/Qy Melbourne nursing home residents ranged in age from 46 to
Nc,*hsx' 101 years (mean = 82) and 85 (21%) were men. The rural
GM:,CJ? residents ranged in age from 40 to 103 years (mean = 60)
6{L F-`S% and 701 (47.5%) were men.
ubD#I{~J Prevalence of cataract and prior cataract surgery
/({P1ti:C As would be expected, the rate of any cataract increases
'HCnB]1 dramatically with age (Table 1). The weighted rate of any
X+@s] cataract in Victoria was 21.5% (95% CL 18.1, 24.9).
g/x_m. Although the rates varied somewhat between the three
)ukF3;Gt strata, they were not significantly different as the 95% confidence
]Uu
aN8 limits overlapped. The per cent of cataractous eyes
/GyEV Cc with best-corrected visual acuity of less than 6/12 was 12.5%
>;m{{nj (65/520) for cortical cataract, 18% for nuclear cataract
$khrWiX (97/534) and 14.4% (27/187) for PSC cataract. Cataract
y`({ .L
surgery also rose dramatically with age. The overall
)TM!ms+K weighted rate of prior cataract surgery in Victoria was
L,6MF,vx 3.79% (95% CL 2.97, 4.60) (Table 2).
A^8x1ydZ Risk factors for unoperated cataract
gUspGsfr Cases of cataract that had not been removed were classified
:fhB*SYK as unoperated cataract. Risk factor analyses for unoperated
3XnE y
+ cataract were not performed with the nursing home residents
Y!F!@`%G as information about risk factor exposure was not
GZ
<nXU> available for this cohort. The following factors were assessed
[Q|M/|mnR1 in relation to unoperated cataract: age, sex, residence
vABXXB (urban/rural), language spoken at home (a measure of ethnic
mLQUcYfR integration), country of birth, parents’ country of birth (a
gXF.on4B measure of ethnicity), years since migration, education, use
.ByU of ophthalmic services, use of optometric services, private
$Vsy%gA< health insurance status, duration of distance glasses use,
eJW[ ] ! glaucoma, age-related maculopathy and employment status.
V+.Q0$~F5 In this cross sectional study it was not possible to assess the
sLZ>v level of visual acuity that would predict a patient’s having
>r=6A
cataract surgery, as visual acuity data prior to cataract
my4\mi6P surgery were not available.
G@B*E%$9 The significant risk factors for unoperated cataract in univariate
{!MVc<G. analyses were related to: whether a participant had
9|<Be6 ever seen an optometrist, seen an ophthalmologist or been
s+'XQs^{aj diagnosed with glaucoma; and participants’ employment
ex!XB$X status (currently employed) and age. These significant
V!W1fb7V factors were placed in a backwards stepwise logistic regression
h mds(lv7 model. The factors that remained significantly related
r,Ds[s)B to unoperated cataract were whether participants had ever
<&6u]uKrW seen an ophthalmologist, seen an optometrist and been
IqNpLh|
[ diagnosed with glaucoma. None of the demographic factors
/7x\;
&bc were associated with unoperated cataract in the multivariate
^
j
[Ku model.
Hv8H.^D> The per cent of participants with unoperated cataract
KxX[S.C who said that they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with
*<xrp*O Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia 79
xG8`'SNY Table 1. Prevalence of any cataracta (excluding previous cataract surgery) by age, gender and cohort
%Lyz_2q A Age group Sex Urban Rural Nursing home Weighted total
DRp&IP< (years) (%) (%) (%)
_[F@1NJ 40–49 Male 2.56 4.04 0.00 3.00 (1.91, 4.08)
e"~)Utk Female 2.61 1.70 0.00 2.36 (1.61, 3.10)
q1w|'V 50–59 Male 7.69 6.94 0.00 7.47 (5.80, 9.15)
xD4$0Ppu Female 6.67 7.56 0.00 6.92 (5.60, 8.24)
7
v~ro 60–69 Male 20.7 25.0 10.0 22.0 (18.1, 26.0)
SY|Ez!tU:N Female 27.9 35.7 37.5 30.3 (26.0, 34.7)
V~[:*WOX 70–79 Male 43.1 58.7 39.1 48.1 (41.2, 55.1)
R:f7LRF/\ Female 58.6 66.2 55.6 61.0 (56.0, 65.9)
p1~*;;F
80–89 Male 74.0 89.3 92.0 79.3 (72.3, 86.3)
{-h, ZdH^ Female 91.9 97.0 80.2 92.6 (86.4, 98.8)
S/fW/W*/} 90 + Male 100.0 100.0 75.0 98.8 (96.2, 100.0)
{>h97}P Female 100.0 100.0 93.8 98.6 (97.0, 100.0)
r
:NH6tAL Age-standardized
8%-%AWF] (95% CL) Combined 19.7 (16.3, 23.1) 23.2 (16.1, 30.2) 16.5 (2.06, 30.9) 21.5 (18.1, 25.0)
t!0dJ
ud aCortical > 4/16, nuclear > standard 2, posterior subcapsular > 1 mm2
C\A49q their current vision was 30% (290/683), compared with 27%
??(Kwtx{ (26/95) of participants with prior cataract surgery (chisquared,
9~~UM<66W 1 d.f. = 0.25, P = 0.62).
SOj`Y|6^: Outcomes of cataract surgery
^K;hn,R= Two hundred and forty-nine eyes had undergone prior
0;<OYbm3< cataract surgery. Of these 249 operated eyes, 49 (20%) were
B9^R8|V left aphakic, 6 (2.4%) had anterior chamber intraocular
n_9x"m$ lenses and 194 (78%) had posterior chamber intraocular
Yf=FeH7" lenses. The rate of capsulotomy in the eyes with intact
8gI\zgS posterior capsules was 36% (73/202). Fifteen per cent of
/WYh[XKe eyes (17/114) with a clear posterior capsule had bestcorrected
OpQ8\[X+ visual acuity of less than 6/12 compared with 43%
,E9d\+j of eyes (6/14) with opaque capsules, and 15% of eyes
W+hV9 (11/73) with prior capsulotomies (chi-squared, 2 d.f. = 7.21,
o%qkq K1 P = 0.027).
^mf jn-=3 The percentage of eyes with best-corrected visual acuity
y
1nU{Sc@ of 6/12 or better was 96% (302/314) for eyes without
xqv[?
? cataract, 88% (1417/1609) for eyes with prevalent cataract
rN#\AN and 85% (211/249) for eyes with operated cataract (chisquared,
?wCs&tM 2 d.f. = 22.3), P < 0.001). Twenty-seven of the
* <q4S(l operated eyes (11%) had visual acuities of less than 6/18
]EN&S Wh (moderate vision impairment) (Fig. 2). A cause of this
h'!V8'}O? moderate visual impairment (but not the only cause) in four
KTv4< c] (15%) eyes was secondary to cataract surgery. Three of these
JJ-i_5\q four eyes had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction
k{-`]qiK and the fourth eye had an opaque posterior capsule. No one
On%
,l had bilateral vision impairment as a result of their cataract
;($1Z7j+ surgery.
]/44Ygz/ DISCUSSION
QptOQ3! To our knowledge, this is the first paper to systematically
2LK]Q/WG,+ assess the prevalence of current cataract, previous cataract
5Eal1Qu surgery, predictors of unoperated cataract and the outcomes
H+`*Y<F@ of cataract surgery in a population-based sample. The Visual
j+Zt.KXjT Impairment Project is unique in that the sampling frame and
|D<+X^0' high response rate have ensured that the study population is
@\PpA9ebg% representative of Australians aged 40 years and over. Therefore,
5~U:@Tp these data can be used to plan age-related cataract
p8>R#9 services throughout Australia.
J7n5Ps\M We found the rate of any cataract in those over the age
Mz\yPT;Y of 40 years to be 22%. Although relatively high, this rate is
KII ym9% significantly less than was reported in a number of previous
kwF] TO
S studies,2,4,6 with the exception of the Casteldaccia Eye
= t-fYV Study.5 However, it is difficult to compare rates of cataract
HlRAD|]\ between studies because of different methodologies and
{MxnIg7' cataract definitions employed in the various studies, as well
<m1sSghg as the different age structures of the study populations.
L=m:/qQL Other studies have used less conservative definitions of
/{R3@,D[] cataract, thus leading to higher rates of cataract as defined.
4|F#gK5E In most large epidemiologic studies of cataract, visual acuity
;dOs0/UM& has not been included in the definition of cataract.
=)*JbwQ
Therefore, the prevalence of cataract may not reflect the
c _mq actual need for cataract surgery in the community.
J[r^T&o 80 McCarty et al.
OAVQ`ek Table 2. Prevalence of previous cataract by age, gender and cohort
K7Gm-=% Age group Gender Urban Rural Nursing home Weighted total
?@3&dk~ni (years) (%) (%) (%)
B.6`cM^ 40–49 Male 1.14 0.00 0.00 0.80 (0.00, 1.81)
BkV(81"C Female 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (
ngLJ@TP- 50–59 Male 0.68 0.58 0.00 0.65 (0.13, 1.17)
<tW:LU(!
Female 0.57 0.00 0.00 0.41 (0.00, 1.00)
s ^3[W0hL 60–69 Male 2.12 7.59 0.00 3.80 (1.41, 6.19)
@p6@a6N% Female 2.11 3.51 0.00 2.54 (1.81, 3.26)
/Zx8nx'{V 70–79 Male 8.22 9.85 8.70 8.75 (6.38, 11.1)
)Oe`s(O@[I Female 7.21 7.86 7.02 7.41 (5.36, 9.46)
UM`nq;> 80–89 Male 25.0 30.0 14.3 26.2 (17.0, 35.4)
*`1bc'umM; Female 27.9 25.6 18.3 26.7 (20.2, 33.3)
|K)p]i+ 90 + Male 0.00 16.7 66.7 9.19 (0.00, 21.5)
QXB|!' Female 58.3 100.0 26.9 63.1 (44.4, 81.8)
?~ ?Hdv Age-standardized
}1F6?do3& (95% CL) Combined 3.31 (2.70, 3.93) 4.36 (2.67, 6.06) 2.26 (0.82, 3.70) 3.79 (2.97, 4.60)
`[bJYZBc2 Figure 2. Visual acuity in eyes that had undergone cataract
lvx]jd\ surgery, n = 249. h, Presenting; j, best-corrected.
IhwN],-V Operated and unoperated cataract in Australia 81
on_H6Y@B52 The weighted prevalence of prior cataract surgery in the
*:[b'D!A Visual Impairment Project (3.6%) was similar to the crude
5
pmQp}}R rate in the Beaver Dam Eye Study4 (3.1%), but less than the
/:KQAM0 crude rate in the Blue Mountains Eye Study6 (6.0%).
B#:E?a;{ However, the age-standardized rate in the Blue Mountains
E#aZvE Eye Study (standardized to the age distribution of the urban
4]IKh,jT Visual Impairment Project cohort) was found to be less than
aH the Visual Impairment Project (standardized rate = 1.36%,
hm6pxFkX_ 95% CL 1.25, 1.47). The incidence of cataract surgery in
/vy?L\`)# Australia has exceeded population growth.1 This is due,
q^%5HeV 2 perhaps, to advances in surgical techniques and lens
{Y^c*Iqn implants that have changed the risk–benefit ratio.
s|E%~j[9 The Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable
4M7^
[G Blindness, sponsored by the World Health Organization,
uD[^K1Ag]^ states that cataract surgical services should be provided that
}|,EU!nDi ‘have a high success rate in terms of visual outcome and
k0knPDbHv improved quality of life’,17 although the ‘high success rate’ is
@~hz_Nm@8 not defined. Population- and clinic-based studies conducted
"&}mAWT%If in the United States have demonstrated marked improvement
[*tU}9 in visual acuity following cataract surgery.18–20 We
~n8F7 found that 85% of eyes that had undergone cataract extraction
|w4(rs- had visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Previously, we have
$M-NR||k shown that participants with prevalent cataract in this
8| Sba<d cohort are more likely to express dissatisfaction with their
M",];h(I6( current vision than participants without cataract or participants
T6;>O`B.r with prior cataract surgery.21 In a national study in the
FJW`$5? United States, researchers found that the change in patients’
6Z$b?A3zM ratings of their vision difficulties and satisfaction with their
5"[yFmP* vision after cataract surgery were more highly related to
vmMV n-\# their change in visual functioning score than to their change
1BTgGF in visual acuity.19 Furthermore, improvement in visual function
{;\%!
I has been shown to be associated with improvement in
??q!jm-m overall quality of life.22
xTGP A recent review found that the incidence of visually
G;Us-IRZ significant posterior capsule opacification following
BSjbnnW}" cataract surgery to be greater than 25%.23 We found 36%
MwN1]d|6 capsulotomy in our population and that this was associated
e
W9)@nVJ with visual acuity similar to that of eyes with a clear
t;oT {Hge capsule, but significantly better than that of eyes with an
2n _T2{ opaque capsule.
LciL/? A number of studies have shown that the demand and
Feh"!k <6k timing of cataract surgery vary according to visual acuity,
neK*jdaP degree of handicap and socioeconomic factors.8–10,24,25 We
dE+CIjW5 have also shown previously that ophthalmologists are more
sb8z_3 likely to refer a patient for cataract surgery if the patient is
"9TxK6 employed and less likely to refer a nursing home resident.7
=%:JjgKc*t In the Visual Impairment Project, we did not find that any
k\Yu5) particular subgroup of the population was at greater risk of
yY-FL`- having unoperated cataract. Universal access to health care
yp( ?1 in Australia may explain the fact that people without
e?_c[`sg Medicare are more likely to delay cataract operations in the
TJeou#=/ USA,8 but not having private health insurance is not associated
D!81(}p with unoperated cataract in Australia.
l2z`<2mp In summary, cataract is a significant public health problem
aOaF&6'j in that one in four people in their 80s will have had cataract
hWl""66+5 surgery. The importance of age-related cataract surgery will
O6M}W_ increase further with the ageing of the population: the
NN31?wt number of people over age 60 years is expected to double in
uzat."`d' the next 20 years. Cataract surgery services are well
j+z' accessed by the Victorian population and the visual outcomes
o06A=4I of cataract surgery have been shown to be very good.
AH"g^ gw~T These data can be used to plan for age-related cataract
HV#?6,U} surgical services in Australia in the future as the need for
Pu/-Qpqh cataract extractions increases.
yVu^
> ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
0KWy?6 X The Visual Impairment Project was funded in part by grants
?qq!%4mTB from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, the
n.;5P {V1 National Health and Medical Research Council, the Ansell
,qBnqi[ Ophthalmology Foundation, the Dorothy Edols Estate and
*il]$i the Jack Brockhoff Foundation. Dr McCarty is the recipient
\N'hbT= of a Wagstaff Fellowship in Ophthalmology from the Royal
"-~D!{rS Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
Ivd[U`=Q REFERENCES
Ba\wq: 1. Keeffe JE, Taylor HR. Cataract surgery in Australia 1985–94.
<