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Cataract surgery workload estimates in Theni district, India
Sachin Gupta1, Ashok Vardhan2, Viraj Ambalam3
1Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business, Ithaca, New York, USA.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|September 6, 2023
Summary
This study estimates the annual cataract surgery workload in India, finding a significant need for increased services to address vision impairment (VI). Achieving VI reduction goals requires an 11.5% increase in annual cataract surgeries.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cataract remains a leading cause of blindness and vision impairment globally.
- Understanding regional cataract surgery workload is crucial for effective eye health planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the annual cataract surgery workload in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India.
- To inform eye health service planning based on current service utilization, disease prevalence, and reduction goals.
Main Methods:
- A population-based longitudinal study was conducted from January 2016 to April 2018.
- 24,327 participants were recruited using random cluster sampling; 7,127 were aged 40 years or older.
- Eye examinations and service utilization were tracked over a one-year period.
Main Results:
- In participants aged ≥40, 13.0% had visually significant cataracts, and 9.92% had vision impairment (VI).
- The cataract surgical rate was 9085, with an effective cataract surgical coverage (eCSC) of 54.5% and overall coverage (CSC) of 75.7%.
- Eliminating the VI backlog in 5 years would necessitate an 11.5% increase in annual cataract surgeries.
Conclusions:
- Current estimates of cataract surgery workload provide essential data for planning eye health services in Theni district.
- Addressing the backlog of vision impairment requires a substantial increase in surgical capacity.
