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Prevalence of cataract surgery seen to rise in Australia
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The prevalence of cataract surgery increased by almost one-third over a 6-year period in a population-based cohort study in Australia.
Ava Grace Tan, BSc(Hons), and colleagues at the University of Sydney in Australia compared the prevalence of cataract surgery in two population cross-sections of the Blue Mountains Eye Study separated by an average interval of 6 years.
The first cross section consisted of 3,654 participants in the Blue Mountains study in 1992 to 1994. The mean age in this group was 66.2 years. The second cross section of 3,509 came from those who participated in the study from 1997 through 2000. The mean age in this group was 66.7 years.
Over the average 6-year period, cataract surgery prevalence increased 32%, from 6% to 7.9%, the researchers said. The prevalence was more marked in participants older than 80, and the increase was more marked for bilateral than unilateral surgery.
Postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity was similar between the two subgroups.
The study is published in the June issue of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.