Increase in cataract surgery prevalence from 1992-1994 to 1997-2000: analysis of two population cross-sections

Monitoring temporal changes in the demand for and provision of cataract surgery will be useful to health planners to meet resource needs and to estimate likely costs. The aim of this report was to compare the prevalence of cataract surgery in two population cross-sections of the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES), over an interval of around 6 years.

Cross-section I (n = 3654; mean age 66.2 years) consisted of BMES I participants (1992-1994). Cross-section II (n = 3509; mean age 66.7 years) consisted of BMES II (5-year) participants (n = 2335) plus persons who had moved into the area and age category since BMES I (n = 1174), so were newly eligible (1997-2000). Cataract surgery history was collected during interview and confirmed at examination.

Over this 6-year period, there was a 32% increase in cataract surgery prevalence from 6.0% to 7.9%, or from 6.0% to 7.7% after age standardization. The increase in eye-specific prevalence was 43% (from 4.4% to 6.3%). It was more marked among persons aged 80+ years and for bilateral (from 12.3% to 19.9%) than unilateral surgery (from 10.7% to 11.8%). Best-corrected visual acuity (mean letters read correctly) after surgery (43 and 44 letters, respectively) was similar between cross-sections I and II.

The findings from a representative older population confirm that prevalent cataract surgery has increased substantially over the average 6-year period, from 1992-1994 to 1997-2000.