Comparison of outcomes after cataract surgery conducted as outreach visits in district centers vs. National Eye Centre in Timor-Leste

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

Timor-Leste is a young country currently building its eye health system. The National Eye Centre (NEC) serves a significant number of people from the capital Dili and surrounding districts. For those who cannot easily access the capital, NEC conducts outreach visits at various districts throughout Timor-Leste. The purpose of this study was to compare visual outcomes after cataract surgery performed at the NEC vs. district centers.

 

Methods

 

For this retrospective study, we reviewed records of patients treated at the ten outreach visits centers in nine district locations and of patients treated at NEC in Dili, Timor-Leste over one year. Demographic information, type of cataract surgery, intra ocular lens type, complications, and clinical outcomes were compared.

 

Results

 

There were a total of 409 cataract surgeries performed over the 2013 - 2014 year at NEC. A total of 296 cataract surgeries were performed over the same year at the nine district outreach locations. There was significant improvement in visual acuity after cataract surgery at both settings. The most common procedure at both settings - comprising 93.89% of all cases at NEC and 99.32% of all cases in the outreach camp was small incision cataract surgery. Most common postoperative complication in both settings was corneal edema. There was no statistically significant (p=0.672) difference in the number of post-operative complications between NEC and outreach centers. There was a statistically significant (p<0.0001) difference in intraoperative complication between NEC and outreach centers - there were higher numbers at NEC. Males were significantly more represented at both settings. Average time for final follow care was not significantly different (p=0.073) between districts and NEC.

 

Conclusions

 

Findings from this study indicate that outcomes after cataract surgery performed as outreach visits at a non eye care center are similar to outcomes performed at Timor-Leste’s only eye care center.