Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate coverage and quality of cataract surgery in southern India Methods: Results of three population-based studies conducted between 1998-2001 in southern India that used the same methodology were analyzed. All three studies were on random representative samples. LogMAR visual acuities, slit lamp examinations and dilated fundus examinations had been performed. Details of cataract surgery including type of surgery, year and place of surgery, complications, visual acuity and cause of visual loss had been recorded. Results: A total of 15265 persons aged 50 years and above were examined, 2438 eyes of 1769 (11.59%) persons had previous cataract surgery. The overall surgical coverage was 65.46%, surgical coverage ranged from 56% to 77% for the three study areas. Of the cataract-operated eyes 1173 (48.11%) were aphakic and 1223 (50.16%) pseudophakic, type of surgery could not be determined for 38 (1.56%) eyes. Nearly 78% of the surgeries had been in the private/NGO sector. Best -corrected vision ³ 6/9 was present for 2052 (84.17%) operated eyes, 215 (8.82%) eyes had best-corrected vision worse than 6/60. Postoperative vision impairment at the worse than 6/18 levels was attributed to surgical complications in 48 (1.97%) operated eyes. Conclusions: High prevalence of good visual outcomes and low prevalence of surgical complications suggest the quality of cataract surgery is reasonable in this population.
Keywords: 338 cataract • 357 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • 620 visual acuity