Determining the National Cataract Surgical Rate in Pakistan
Asad A Khan1, Haroon R Awan2, Aliya Q Khan3
1Professor Emeritus, College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
Insights
Pakistan
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Cataract surgical rate (CSR) is a key indicator for eye care service assessment.
- A 2002 survey reported a CSR of 2254 in Pakistan.
- The current study establishes a new baseline for cataract surgery volumes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a Sustainable Development Goal-compliant baseline for cataract surgery volume in Pakistan.
- To assess cataract surgery volume by service provider at district, provincial, and national levels.
Main Methods:
- Survey commissioned by the National Committee for Eye Health.
- Identification and mapping of all service providers by district and category.
- Data collection from all districts across Pakistan.
Main Results:
- National CSR reached 5307, nearly double the 2002 rate.
- More surgeries performed in women (M:F ratio 0.95).
- 98.9% of surgeries used intraocular lenses; 63.9% by phacoemulsification.
- 82.3% of surgeries were in the non-governmental and private sectors.
Conclusions:
- Achieving a CSR of 7500+ by 2030 requires ~1.84 million annual surgeries.
- Without increased surgical output, Pakistan's CSR may decline to 4628 by 2030.
Purpose:
Cataract surgical rate (CSR) (cataract surgeries performed per million population) is an eye health indicator that helps assess the state of eye care services. A survey in 2002 revealed a CSR of 2254. The current survey aimed to establish a new and sustainable development goal compliant baseline for the volume of cataract surgery performed by different service providers in Pakistan at district, provincial, and national levels.
Methods:
The survey was commissioned by the National Committee for Eye Health under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. The methodology used for the survey included identification and mapping of all service providers by district and category and data collection from all districts in the country.
Results:
There were more cataract surgeries performed in women than men with a male-to-female ratio of 0.95. About 98.9% of all cataract surgeries were performed with intraocular lenses, while 63.9% were performed by phacoemulsification. About 17.7% of cataract surgical services were provided in the government sector (including Forces), while nongovernmental organizations and the private sector contributed to 82.3%. Pakistan achieved a national CSR of 5307 which is almost double the CSR determined in 2002.
Conclusion:
In order to achieve a CSR of 7500+ by 2030, there is a need for at least 1,840,000 cataract surgeries to be performed annually. If there is no change in the current annual cataract surgical output, the CSR will drop to 4628 by 2030.
